well it's been about a month since my ac stopped working and I spent 2 weeks on here searching all the threads (189 pages) for someone who maybe had the same symptoms my 98 1500 van has to no avail. when I turn on ac and compressor kicks on it drains the battery and blows the 20 amp fuse (starter/ac) under the hood. I tried all the tests that people on here suggested. the clutch kicks on fine with no slippage, it spins freely with engine off and there is no abnormal noise so i'm sure the compressor did not lock up. i'm guessing that the compressor is bad so it looks like it's going in the shop, like all the other people on here i'm trying to save money. i'm just afraid of the shop hosing me for a compressor when it could be some kind of simple electrical problem. anyway thanks to all that replied with helpful advice.

 

Sounds like the coil is bad not the compressor. May have an internal short witch will raise the amp draw blowing the fuse.

 

well it is an expensive job...

Compressor -$250
Labor - 2-3 hours @ 60-100/hr - approx. $200
Freon - $50
Shop supplies and tax - $50

Should be just under $600 from a standard shop...under $500 from a cut rate shop...

BUT, why don't you just go to the shop for an estimate to see if their diagnosis coincides with us here??????

 

wouldn't I have other problems if it was the coil? I tested the alternator under stress with all the load I could put on it and it was fine until that compressor kicks on. the van starts right up with no hesitation at all every time, no electrical problems at all, just when the compressor kicks on

 

The coil generates a field to pull in the clutch on the compressor. It has power going to it whenever the compressor is running(ac on). They have been known to go bad, Usually not work at all or if it has short in the coil somewhere it will pull more power(amps) than normal. Since it's blowing the fuse i would suspect it. Wouldn't hurt to check the wires going to it and make sure it's not grounding out on something.

 

thanks moparite. I will check coil. do you know where it is on this 5.2 liter, near the distributor?

 

Two different coils! The coil for the ac is behind the clutch on the compressor. The pulley and clutch will need to be removed to get to the coil. Special tools needed so if you are not up on doing this yourself buy the coil and take it somewhere.

Here is a pic for reference...

 

I checked with advance auto parts online and there was no compressor coil. what exactly is it called? do you know a place to buy one? thanks

 

I just noticed it's called a clutch coil on that picture you sent me!

 

Well i looked it up on rockauto and it looks like they don't sell the coil or clutch separate. That would be to easy for us just replace what is needed. You may have to do some searching or get a used one. If it where me i would not replace the whole compressor just because the coil is bad. Just another way they make money on our expense.