A/C Compressor

The system is short-cycling due to low refrigerant levels. Have a professional confirm this diagnosis and charge it to the proper level. Be sure you have no leaks before charging, otherwise adding refrigerant will be money wasted.

If the clutch kicks in at all, it's working fine. If the compressor were toast, the noise would deafen you. It sounds like it is in need of some badly-needed maintenance is all.

-JD

-------------------------------- Enlightenment for The Masses: http:/207.13.104.8/users/jdadams--------------------------------

Now looks like a good time to remind people that if the compressor doesn't engage at all, the culprit could be a bad relay. Most A/C shops will screw you for a new compressor in this situation. Relays are just a few bucks.

CobraJet

Seen the odd problem with high pressure cut out switches on newer models.... also, the refrigerant in the system can get low enough to keep the clutch from cycling at all.

HTH

Well thank you for the suggestions. I really appreciate the help in narrowing down this issue!

Cheers,

AquaPlano

I think you're in luck here. If the compressor is cycling you can rule out problems with BOTH the compressor and the clutch, at least for now. It's shutting down so it won't freeze water into ice back at the evaporator. Usually it's an undercharge, but sometimes it'll happen if the system is badly restricted somewhere downstream of the condenser.

Cheers for that info Joe.

I've seen these as well. One older station wagon I owned in the late 70's had a compressor that never worked either. I could hear the relay kicking in, but no clutch action. I jumpered it directly and it worked fine. Traced the hot wire back to a PCB that had a bad solder connection on it; touched it with an iron, and all was well. It has apparantly never worked, even when new, and no one ever did anything about it.

This'll kill ya, Jim. My late Father-in-law had his A/C serviced about 10 years ago, after noticing that the compressor short-cycled. They charged him $170 dollars for 'service'. When he got it back, he had me take a quick look to make sure they'd done it right. Sure enough, I found a goodie: the tech shoved a piece of foil into the h.p. switch connection harness to bypass it because, according to him, 'it wouldn't work right, even after replacing the damn thing.' He didn't bother to notice that the switch was ADJUSTABLE... A 3/4 turn of my own screwdriver, and all was well.

Hell, I didn't even need tinfoil to make that miracle happen. Amazing.

-JD

-------------------------------- Enlightenment for The Masses: http:/207.13.104.8/users/jdadams--------------------------------

JD, you've touched on one of the sad realities.... technician proficiency. There are many reasons why we see incompetent techs.... the biggest one is that people don't care (these people are the techs and they are just like the dumb-ass salesman, the waitress that doesn't know what todays soup is, or the doctor that suddenly changes your pills with no explanation....).

Here in Canada, we have an apprenticeship program that is geared towards getting young minds working - it fails as often as it works. You folks to the south have no competency requirements, for the most part..... anyone with a 1/2" wrench and a hammer can call him/herself a mechanic and get away with it.

My feeling is that if it worked new without tin foil, it should work now without tin foil....... I can't promise cheap, but I can promise the right repair, done once, ready when promised.....

That could lead us on to the "I can get it done cheaper...." type thread, but we all know that a $49.95 stereo just ain't gonna be quite as good as something a tad higher end...

Nothing will beat an accurate diagnosis (sorry folks, I need to get paid for that part) followed by a comprehensive estimate utilizing the prices of known, dependable assmblies and parts..... I always quote a best case scenario and a worst case scenario since we can ever really know what we're looking at until it's apart....

Jim (fat f*ck on a Harley) Warman snipped-for-privacy@telusplanet.net

You're absolutely right about US standards, and this has been a big problem for everyone I know for as long as I can remember. I have friends (guys and gals) who often ask me to take care of repairs for them, because their mechanics are so incompetent, and as you've pointed out, just don't care. Or they're just plain dishonest.

I had a gal friend of mine who recently had her car worked on at a Ford dealership. When she got it back, it shifted very late and very harshly, slamming into every gear so hard, it frightened her. She had taken it back to the Dealership twice to remedy the problem, and was told both times, "it shifted like that when you brought it in...looks like you need a new transmission."

She was in tears when she told me about it. I took a quick look, and sure enough, I discovered that the 'tech' had fooled around with the TV cable setting. One quick adjustment, and that failing transmission was back in business, as though nothing had ever happened.

Now, I'd love to think that the tech was somehow looking out for her best interests by making sure the line pressure was nice and high, but we're talking absolutely *brutal* driveline-damaging shifting here. My own personal opinion is that they were just trying to upsell the service with a fresh transmission, but I could be wrong.

It has been suggested that I open my own shop and employ ONLY decent mechanics who actually care about the customer's equipment. We have a transmission shop like that here in town. They don't make huge profits, but people respect them and they get 100% of the local transmission business.

Quit trying to make me jealous. I've had my eye on an '04 Softtail for months; a neighbor put his black '01 Sporty out for sale the other day, and I nearly bought it. Now that I'm so old that I no longer care about whiskey, women or the loot, it all makes sense. Marilyn Manson was right: Corporations and Governments use Fear and Consumption to herd us around like sheep. Sturgis is calling to me all over again.

-JD

-------------------------------- Enlightenment for The Masses: http:/207.13.104.8/users/jdadams--------------------------------

JD, I will never be too old to think about women and whiskey... as for loot, I am rewarded quite handsomely because I care about what I produce..... being an old school army brat, bad mouthing my work is a lot like slapping me in the face - I really take that to heart and, if indeed I screwed the pooch, I'll move mountains to set things right.

The TV cable adjustment is a good example...... It requires a very different technique than the detent on a C6 or such...... could it be the tech was trying to be nice by raising line pressure? If it were me making the adjustment, there'd be a pressure guage involved. Could it be the tech didn't know what he didn't know? That sounds plausable though I'd be surprised to see many techs that remember detent rods (things wear out sooner in Canada).

We have some of those problems here in Canada...... those that don't know what they don't know, unscrupulous people (hard to separate them sometimes) and those that just want 5 o'clock and/or payday to get here....

Interesting sidebar..... there has only been one Ford school I've been to that had anyone older than me in the building (our instructor, Peter Gray, was fantastic.... he's retired recently and will be sorely missed) with most in their 20's. These youngsters went to school and were taught metric yet try to think in inches..... I'm lucky in that I can flip back and forth - nifty looks when you say "that looks like 70 millimeters give or take a 16th of an inch...".... the old tape measure styarts dancing then....

I was self employed for many years..... I never, ever did to a customer anything that I wouldn't want done to me. Sadly, I found I was a better tech than businessman (that and some health stuff with my loving bride). A year ago last November, the service manager at our local Ford store approached me... the rest is history. I took my first classroom last summer and recently made Fords "Senior Tech" list and I should make Master by fall..... If some of these other stores would invest the time and money into the training that Ford offers, consumers would have it better. If the techs could stop staring at the clock for a few minutes and dedicate themselves to performing accurate diagnosis and timely repairs, consumers would have it better.

There is a flip side to the coin, though.... top quality work earns top dollar..... some consumers would rather make several trips to a store for "inexpensive" stuff than have it done right once even though several trips will make the total more than it needs to be. Yeah, my quote is high, but the next time you see me will be something very different.

I'm still trying to put things into perspective..... being 29 with 24 years of experience, I wonder about my dealer principal investing the kind of money this training takes in an old fart. But then I have to realize that he rarely gets irate phone calls regarding something I've done or haven't done....

As for the scooter..... way back when the Beatles were still together and Viet Nam was very real, I sold my '58 Triumph Tiger to buy an engagement ring. A few years ago, I broke open the piggy bank and discovered I had enough change to buy an aging Yamaha 650 twin. I was plagued with the Jap electrics and the vibration a vertical twin gives and Mrs. mechanic agreed I deserved a new ride..... Firmly believing I would leave the Harley store with a long face and the need to check out the Intruder, we made a visit to the Harley store on one trip to school last December. There, on the showroom floor, sat an '03 Sporty 100th Anniversary..... all shiny black and gleaming chrome. Mrs mechanic would have no part in leaving the store without some new keys clutched firmly in our hands.......... Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and his helper is Mrs. mechanic....

The Softail Springer would have been my choice but Santas pockets just weren't quite that deep........ Come to the dark side, JD..... the force is strong within you

I'd say the latter was the case. It was adjusted as far as it would go; it wouldn't shift until it hit 3000 rpm, then did so with a BANG that broke the rear tires loose, scaring the s*it out of her. It was the "it came in that way lady - you need a new transmission" pitch that sent her running, and convinced me that they were looking for some 'value-added' action. Times are tough for dealerships these days I guess.

When you're ready to hang a shingle again, come on down. We need a decent mechanic around here. California's Tax Nazi's will leave you just enough to operate of course, but you'll have our undying gratitude. :)

Funny how the circle was made complete, isn't it? You sell a prized Trump to take a woman, and now she's giving it all back with interest. Ya done good.

If I don't, the Dark Side will find me. It usually happens that way. I have a funny feeling I'll end up selling the GT to pay for it all, but I ain't a kid no more, and I really want to get back in the wind.

-JD

-------------------------------- Enlightenment for The Masses: http:/207.13.104.8/users/jdadams--------------------------------

I think the "need a new trans..." was some kind of snap error??? I can spend

Some of the guys don't like it but I agree whole-heartedly..... have an explanation for the customer makes for happy customers. When customers are happy my paycheck is happy - too bad some techs don't see it that way. I need our service writers to get the info that will help me fix a concern... they deserve to have a comprehensive list of what I did and what I found... helps keep customers from yelling too loud.

I've been told that California is the worlds largest open air insane asylum...... yesterday, our temp went over 60°F and that is hot enough for me. I might kvetch about our weather the odd time, but I like looking out the window and seeing the difference in seasons ('cept that I've never had to shovel rain....). 8^)

More than likely. She was told this after she got the 'it's all fixed little lady, now git along' thing. I think they were just tired of working on it, and didn't want to fool with it anymore. The service writer and lead mechanic probably had no clue that the underling tech set it up that way, and probably didn't care. Shame, but that's business in California.

Your source is correct. We ran out of straight jackets and thorazine a long time ago, so we are now allowed to roam about in this unusually large exercise yard. Some have managed to escape; others are still in the planning stage.

When I start seeing cats on Harley pipes, I'm outta here.

-JD

-------------------------------- Enlightenment for The Masses: http:/207.13.104.8/users/jdadams--------------------------------

Don't be looking around too hard.... my 03 HD shop manual mentions cats and even a data link connector tucked in with the fuse panel on the left side....

OTOH, Slave Lake is booming and there are jobs to be had....