AC aggravation

ckeaton · 08-25-2011, 02:09 PM

Alright i bought an 06 5.9 in july of 2010 with a perfectly good air conditioner that was freezing me out of the truck then two months later ac compressor stoped kicking on. By this time the weather started getting cold and i decided to wait and fix the ac in upcoming spring, spring arrives i start noticing that the ac is up and running again. So I figure just one less thing to worry about and now i get to july and its stoped working again on my trip home from work as i was just driving along and suddenly stopped blowing cold so i stoped and checked. the compressor clutch would not engage with the ac on like before.

So i guess my question here is, is this a problem in the compressor and clutch, to much or no enough freon, an electrical problem or what? Has anyone had any experiance with this problem?

2006 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 QCSB: K&N intake, TS performance shift enhancer, bully dog triple dog tuner, 5" straight exhaust, 6" superlift, 20" Diamo karat wheels, 35" General Grabber tires

njonl · 08-25-2011, 02:20 PM

I've only ever experienced this problem with a GM.... But if I had to guess, I'd say the freon level is low. Does the clutch cycle on and off? Or just doesn't come on at all?

ckeaton · 08-25-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njonl

I've only ever experienced this problem with a GM.... But if I had to guess, I'd say the freon level is low. Does the clutch cycle on and off? Or just doesn't come on at all?

It just doesn't come on at all?

2006 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 QCSB: K&N intake, TS performance shift enhancer, bully dog triple dog tuner, 5" straight exhaust, 6" superlift, 20" Diamo karat wheels, 35" General Grabber tires

**nkfry** · 08-25-2011, 02:27 PM

If the freon level is too high it wont kick on as it should, if its too low the compressor will either kick on more often or again not at all, check the freon levels both high and low side of the system, as far as electrical goes it could be something as small as a pressure switch that needs replaced.

cpickett1989 · 08-25-2011, 08:26 PM

you might try kicking it on and seeing if your getting power to your clutch.... This way you can ether blame or knock the comperson clutch off the list... if you arent getting power and have enought freon you could try unpluging on sesor at a time and with a piece of wire jumping across terminals to see if it kicks on.... just some fast easy ways of checking stuff....

mblanco2000 · 08-25-2011, 09:27 PM

I did this w/ mine b/c I was having a similar problem as you. There is not a good way to adjust the spacing on these compressors to allow the magnetic to kick in the clutch. This is a work around. I did this about a year ago, and have had cold air since.

Possible DIY fix for AC compressor clutches that are going bad

CSURam06 · 08-26-2011, 08:19 PM

^^^ I had the same issue, and this fix kicked my right back in.

Crude Dude · 08-31-2011, 03:24 AM

I had the same issue and now Im going through hell with my a/c. I paid a shop 400$ to install what they diagnosed as a bad field coil in my compressor. Along with that they installed a new clutch. My a/c worked for 3 days and as long as I wasnt going over 30 mph. I took it back in to them and they said I need a new compressor now. BS! Something was wrong with the clutch engaging even I knew that. So I go home and get under the truck and what I found was the new clutch was about to fall off the compressor. They didnt even tighten the bolt that holds the clutch on so I had a fried clutch. I went back in and they said since I messed with it they wouldnt warranty it at all! I do mechanic work so Im looking for a decent replacement compressor now. Good luck and if I could do it all over I would do the relay trick that was posted earlier.

mblanco2000 · 08-31-2011, 05:40 PM

I would just buy the same compressor that was on the pickup to begin with. I believe they are sanden compressors. I tried to look for a better compressor before I did this relay trick, but had no luck.

rgsauger · 09-01-2011, 02:40 AM

Possible DIY fix for AC compressor clutches that are going bad

This sounds like your problem. Real simple to check. Read all the pages as there is more data toward the end of it. Good luck.

Blanco, mine lasted a year and then I finally had to swap the coils. I kept the relay system in when I did the new coil. Works great now.

mblanco2000 · 09-01-2011, 04:02 PM

Yeap mine is still rocking w/ the relay!

Crude Dude · 09-02-2011, 07:06 PM

I wish they were sandens! They are Visteon and everyone that I have talked to says that are the biggest pos a/c compressor ever. Ive done a lot of research on availability of our HS-18 compressors and the options are chinese or korean (factory compressors are korean). Korean compressors are a few bucks more but shops are saying that they arent any better. I emailed Sanden to ask if they had a replacement or an upgrade and all they said was "no". Im ready to bolt a York on, wouldnt feel any power loss and surely wont hear it haha.