Okay, I'm a bit confused.
I have a '93 Ford Ranger V-6, 3.0 (FI) automatic that I've had for a few years. The air conditioning has never worked that I can remember. I assume it needs to be recharged, but I've never looked into it. It could have absolutely no refrigerant for all I know. I've never been a big fan of AC in cars.
The problem is this. When the engine is running the AC clutch on the front of the pump will engage for a few moments then disengage. Engage then disengage. Engage then disengage. The engine slows down a bit each time indicating that it is really engaging and using a bit of my precious horsepower.
It doesn't matter where the climate controls are set, but if I turn the AC on and off a bunch of times sometimes the endless engage/disengage thing will stop. Like I can get it to stop sometimes by messing with the switch. Not always, just sometimes.
I'm not sure if this is happening all the time, as I can't hear the noise on the road, just at stoplights and such.
Where would I be looking to fix this problem?
Would recharging the AC and getting it to a baseline level stop the compressor from trying to compress?
Why the hell is it trying to compress when the AC is off?
Is there a wacked-out pressure switch somewhere?
Is it okay to just unplug the AC pump?
Thanks for any help.
~e.