My AC today would not work. The weather was in the 90's. I really do not know if the compressor was coming on at all or not. I guess I should have looked, but I was just hot and frustrated. When the weather cooled off to about 75 degrees, I turned on my AC and viola my AC cooled the cab down about 45 degrees. I have been having this problem with my AC lately and as the weather gets warmer and warmer I am having it happen more often. When the temp outside is temprate, mid 70-80, the AC works great. When it is just plain hot, and want your AC the most, it will not work.

I talked to two people about it today, and they both seemed to agree that it is a "fail safe" switch on the compressor that shuts it off so that it does not burn itself up. They said these Dodges are known for it. The fix they said was to replace the compressor, but I wanted to check with you guys on what I should do to make sure this is the case, and try to get advice on what I should do.

 

ahhh no the fail safe stuff is for to low of freeon which uses a low side pressure switch and a high side pressure switch to make sure it does not go above the max psi and blow some lines up. If u want to know if its a compressor do this next time its not working real hot this is what u do get a screw driver and a hammer. Turn on teh truck and ac this u need to be carefull of though, hold teh screw driver up to the clutch the part that u see infront of the compressor and with the hammer a good wack on the clutch should start it moving again it will throw the screw driver if u dont move it fast enough so be carefull there. What u just did was make the clutch closer to the coil and close the gap to which the compressor will work. just like any motor now an days the brushes get worn and wont hold what it needs to be held good any more. The heat will make the clutch harder to close the gap.Now if that did not work then i doubt its the compressor something else is wrong.

 

Could it be slightly overcharged? Would that make it have higher pressure during hot weather (high enough to activate the hi-pressure cutoff)?

Have someone check the pressures with a set of gauges.

Lee

 

no the high side pressure cut off is 450 to 490 psi and it turns off the ac clutch. Outside temp will not make the freeon go to 450 psi. I slight low or high charge will affect the amount of heat the system can remove the cabin thats all.

 

Well thanks Dodge_Tech. I turned on the AC and the compressor was not spinning and then just firmly pressed that clutch in and it came right on. The air got nice and cool in the cab. I did not even need the hammer. Thanks now I feel better knowing what the issue is.

So now my question is should I try to replace just the AC clutch or just replace the whole compressor? It looks like to get to the AC clutch to replace it, could be a bit rough. Remove fan shroud, radiator fan and then remove the AC clutch. If you just replaced the whole compressor it is right there on top so I am wondering how I should proceed from this point.

 

This is the compressor with clutch that I found on NAPA's site. I just want to make sure my pickup gets cool!!

http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...f+Clutch+-+New

 

well u can try just the clutch if it works out for ya good but it is an aftermarket part so there may be issues not working just right who knows. The compressor itself it more and alot less involved to install your choice more time with more issues on replacing the clutch or less time and prey much no worry there after. O BTW if u get a compressor make sure u have the correct amout of oil in there if it does not have any from where ever u get it. If u dont have the right amout of oil in the system the new comressor will lock up for sure.

 

My 01 1500 ram did this. I found that the clutch would draw to much amperage.I probed the connector to the compressor clutch and found as soon as the amperage would spike it would shut off. Replaced the compressor and drier. Running good now after 2 years.