last time i checked my a/c, the clutch wasnt kicking in, and was therefore inoperable. im going to check over all the connections and wires once i get the new belt on (old one broke), but i could visibly see the compressor not working. does anyone know how it is turned on besides the control in the car? i want to test it by applying a ground and hot wire to it to see if it works, but i dont know if thats how it works or if its safe.

 

Most AC compressors have 2 wires. A Black wire to engine ground, and a Green power wire coming from the compressor control relay. Applying 12 V to the green wire should engage the compressor clutch. Use a jumper wire in serieswith a 20 AMP fuse, to prevent starting a fire in case the wiring is different.

 

Jumper your pressure switches. The low is on the dryer and maybe there will be a high on the comnpressor. If you jumper the low and it works you are either low on refrigerant or the switch is bad. If that switch is bad your in luck because there should be a shrader valve in the fitting and the switch can be replaced without losing refrigerant. If the high side is bad you need to evacuate and then replace it. Also check your fuses. There are two one for the a/c itself and one for the control relay. Though I think the last one works other items also.

 

thanks guys. ill check first with a jumper wire with a fuse. if that works, ill find which relay it would be. would it be one of the three on the driver's side firewall? the middle one should be for the fuel pump, what are the other two for? ive gone through all the fuses on the fuse panel and theyve all checked out fine. also, there is a wire going into the rear of the compressor. what does that do?