I have a 2000 Chrysler Town and Country LXi 2wd 3.3 Flex Fuel. I had my AC serviced last year by a mechanic and he replaced a bunch of o-rings and my evaporator core in the dash. It finally got warm enough yesterday to try the AC around 74F so I cranked up the ***** and it never got cold. It only felt like it was circulating the air from outside and was a little warmer than the air outside in my opinion. So I figured it needed some freon most likely. I first took a look at the compressor and it was not engaging. I checked the low side with a guage because that is the only side I am able to check right now because I do not have a hi side guage. It read 75lbs so I did not put any freon in it. I moved on to the fuses and relay, the 15amp fuse in the box under the hood was fine and I switched the relay out with the horn relay since they were the same and the horn worked great with either relay so I assume the relays are fine. I pulled the plug on the compressor and used a 12v light to check for current and the light lit up. So finally I tried to turn the clutch by hand on the compressor and it will not budge. I am unfamiliar with this vehicle as far as the AC goes, I do know older chevys clutches can be turned by hand. I asked O reillys and was told it sounds like I needed a compressor clutch and Autozone said it sounded like I need a new pressure switch but his computer does not show the part or its location. I am at a loss currently. Any information you could give me that can help me solve this mystery would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

 

I looked over my compressor again today and it looked like what I was grabbing may be a shield of some sort? The inner part does not spin while the motor is running but if I turn on my AC the inner part engages and spins. So I assume my compressor is working however I am still sitting at 75lbs on the low side. Is my system clogged or something?

 

The outermost part of the compressor is the clutch, just past the belt, if that does not start up when the a/c is on, and you have freon in the system, it likely needs to be replaced, it could be some other things, but the compressor is most likely the problem.

 

This is what my compressor looks like:

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl...&tx=144&ty=121

The piece farthest to the right on mine is stiff as a rock and will not turn no matter what.

This is what I assume is inside of the compressor past the part that will not move:

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl...18&tx=96&ty=85

If I am correct then the piece farthest to the left will not spin when the motor is running and AC is off but if I turn the AC on it will click engage and spin. The outer edge piece from the previous picture does not spin at all though. I still am at 75lbs and it is 58F this morning.

 

The piece farthest to the right is the part that is connected to the shaft of hte compressor. Sounds to me like the compressor is seized.

 

That outer piece part of the clutch, or at least the part that should spin right away when the A/C is turned on, pretty sure your compressor is bad.

 

So the piece I assumed was a shield should be able to be freely spun by hand? Or at least spin when the clutch engages as well? Thank You for your help

 

If someone could describe to me how to upload a video I can do that today.

 

I got my AC fixed today. It was my compressor it had seized up. I purchased one from you call we haul here locally and put it in. The compressor I found was pretty nice. It was re manufactured according to the side sticker and the clutch engaged when I gave it 12 volts. The "shield" I previously thought it was turns freely on the new used compressor. I gave $20 for the compressor, purchased 8oz of pag oil from oreillys for 8.99, 1 can of stop leak 4.99 and 4 cans of freon from walmart for 9.97. I put a total of 46 oz of freon and 13 approximate oz of pag oil. It is 72 tonight and my low side is right at 35lbs and my AC is blowing perfectly cold. Thank you for your help.

 

never put stop leak in an a/c system........never.........never.........never. And if you do, put a big sign under the hood so we don't ruin our equipment working on it.