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clutch click but no load on engine


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fat-katie
User

Jul 18, 2022, 5:39 PM

Post #1 of 11 (1305 views)
clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

95 Skylark. I'm wondering if I should even attempt to work on the AC which hasn't worked in years. But it's so damn hot I told her I'd try... maybe.

Thinking it was just a refill issue I started the procedure by starting the engine and then turning on the ac.

The compressor appears to have an electrically controlled 'clutch'. You can hear it click but there is no load on the engine at all, like the clutch isn't engaging.

Not knowing a thing about these, what's the chance that I could fix this? Is this clutch failure, if that's what it is, a common problem? When it clicks and don't see a shake or wiggle on the compressor at all.

Thank you.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 18, 2022, 6:09 PM

Post #2 of 11 (1302 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

You can't base anything on engine load and you can't just arbitrarily add refrigerant.

If you don't have a good set of professional gauges, then stop while you're not too far behind.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
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Jul 19, 2022, 1:21 AM

Post #3 of 11 (1280 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

'95 anything with A/C click but not working? Look at the clutch head, is it turning compressor or just clicking and slipping?

Don't add refrigerant without knowing you need it or how far off it is. Yes you could this old still not so fast now the stuff is more costly so go by pressures if it makes any.

Stinks - it's hot to work on things in some places too hot the time to fix this stuff was MAY not now but the way it is,

Tom



Nacho
User

Jul 20, 2022, 7:07 PM

Post #4 of 11 (1247 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

It has a V5 compressor. No electric refrigerant control valve on those. It's a mechanical CV and an otherwise, excellent compressor, but you need gauges to determine what goes on when the compressor is activated. V5's work with as little as 15% of the refrigerant charge


fat-katie
User

Aug 6, 2022, 11:29 AM

Post #5 of 11 (1182 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

I have a recharge can that has it's own gage. Is that good enough to proceed?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 6, 2022, 1:01 PM

Post #6 of 11 (1173 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

Definity not!

Those things are called "Death Kits". You need professional gauges that measure by the pound for both high and low side of the system to be able to understand what is going on in the system.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



fat-katie
User

Aug 6, 2022, 1:05 PM

Post #7 of 11 (1165 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

I surrender. To the shop I guess. I dread it $$$$$. Thank you.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 6, 2022, 1:11 PM

Post #8 of 11 (1161 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

Let them diagnose it and then post back with their recommendations.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 6, 2022, 1:13 PM

Post #9 of 11 (1159 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

I'd like to agree but do see some things that look better than the "Death Kit" of once. Trouble right now is you don't know if you can trust the gauge (I wouldn't) until compared to real stuff just a test.

So "NO" is my answer - I also know it's nasty hot in lots of places (is here pulling 100s days in a row) is nasty without but worse if you wrecked it so bad it broke a belt off then no car at all!

If you already have it and it doesn't do a thing to just hook up and can't take it back it also has to show pressures with #s not some color thing - toss that or take it back.

It just has to be known the issue is a low charge so far that isn't conclusive to any of us.

I tell you what if not already: With it running if it does and you think engaged (center bolt if one turning with belt speed) carefully just touch the lines smaller is high pressure, larger is return or low pressure even at firewall.

If hot (AYOR) touching it at compressor best with tools but if warm at all and larger is cool at all it means it's doing something.

If nothing at all it's dead, not compressing a thing remains an IDK so far a static pressure and temp of area taken (engine cold) would be telling it has anything in it at all,

Tom



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 6, 2022, 1:18 PM

Post #10 of 11 (1157 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

Couple posts came while I was writing. THAT $$ isn't a waste! Yes it's costly, failing badly will choke you silly with how costly you could make it and it might not be now, Tom


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 6, 2022, 1:21 PM

Post #11 of 11 (1152 views)
Re: clutch click but no load on engine Sign In

A low side only gauge is not sufficient even if it did read in 1 lb. increments.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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