Hi all.

Some time ago, I disconnected the compressor. My car was overheating with the compressor on, so I pulled the wire to the comp. I have recently changed my water pump, and now the car is running about 30 deg. cooler. Wanting to see if i can now run the car with the comp, I plugged it back in. But it's not kicking on. I get air flow, but it's not cool (obviously) and the compressor stays dormant. It was working the day I unplugged it; anything is possible, but I find it hard to believe it just died from being unplugged. I checked all of the fuses, and the wiring appears to be good. Any idea where else i should look?

Thanks in advance.

 

there is a switch on the dryer (more like a relay)

if there is very low or no refrigerant then no power is sent to the AC compressor.

you can jumper out that switch (relay) and see if the compressor tries to engage but only do that for a quick test and not to keep it running

 

Hey - thanks for the response.

When you say dryer - you mean this thing?:

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/3121/camcomp.jpg

I don't see a switch, but (as you can see) I have unplugged it.

The other thing is, is there a way to tell visually if the comp is kicking on? It's so hot out now, that if I put the air on from bi-level to a/c, it would take a while until the air got noticeably cool.

Thanks again!

 

Yes, that thing. The part (with the two prongs) that the plug plugged into is the switch. Jumper a wire across the two terminals inside the plug, but just momentarily as t.i.g. warned.
The A/C clutch has an inner and outer part. When disengaged (off), only the outer pulley will spin. When engaged, the whole assembly will spin, and you will then be able to see the inner hub turning.

 

Thanks for that.

So what you are telling me to do is this:

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6615/camcomp2.jpg

Correct?

 

Yep.
Btw, I think that was my shortest answer ever!

 

Finally got around to this.

So, under normal conditions, the compressor hub does not turn. With the connecter jumped, the hub does indeed turn. I take it that this tells us that the compressor is ok, and I need refrigerant?

If so, is adding coolant something that I can do myself, or do I realy need to have it done by a qualified person?

Thanks!

 

unless it's been updated you need to use R12 refrigerant. I don't think you can get it at WalMart but probably can at the auto aprts store.

When i restored my 3rd gen I replaced the compressor/accumulator/orifice and upgraded to R134A (if you actually call it an upgrade)

 

Thanks for the response.

Don't think it's been updated. Last time I had ref. added was about 5 years ago, and I think the guy just did a refill.

So, a couple of service stations in my area are saying that R12 is now illegal, and I must do a conversion. They want $300 for the conversion, + about $170 to do the ref. Does that sound right? I can't find anything on line about R12 being illegal.....

 

R-12 is "illegal" for you to buy or use, but it's not sold in stores.
Legal use of it requires a service tech to be EPA certified, so perhaps those stations you went to aren't.
Here's what you couldn't find: The Refrigerant Sales Restriction | Ozone Layer Protection - Regulatory Programs | US EPA