The air conditioning system in an automobile keeps passengers cool when temperatures outside soar. The A/C compressor clutch is the central component in an automobile air conditioning system. If the compressor clutch fails, the entire system stops cooling. When it comes time to replace an A/C compressor, many people prefer to purchase an A/C compressor clutch kit. These kits include the coil, clutch, belt pulley, snap rings, and hardware. This ensures replacement of any part that is worn or malfunctioning. Due to the heavy demands on automobile air conditioning compressors and clutches, these parts tend to fail more often than other parts of the A/C system. Compressors fail for a number of reasons, and failures are either internal or external. Several simple diagnostic techniques can help determine which part of an A/C system is malfunctioning. Owners can check their service manuals for tips on how to diagnose A/C compressor clutch failures, or they can take their vehicles to certified mechanics to have the issue diagnosed.

When an A/C compressor fails, metal fragments from the failed compressor can contaminate the entire system, leaving behind debris that is impossible to remove. car ac repair naplesInternal failure of a compressor often results in catastrophic and irreparable damage to many parts of the system. car radio repair reno nvIn cases of internal failure, the entire compressor unit requires replacement.coleman ac parts nashville External compressor failure involves the power supply, clutch air gap clearance, the clutch itself, or the coil. A power supply issue could indicate a problem with the wiring, control module, or a switch, or it could simply indicate a blown fuse or relay. The clutch air gap, or press fit clearance, is a specific measurement found in a car's service manual.

If this clearance is incorrect, it leads to slippage and burning of the clutch. Issues with the clutch or the compressor clutch coil are the result of worn parts, including the rotors, pulleys, and belts. When replacing faulty or broken compressor clutch units, owners must take care to find the correct parts. The replacement units must be for the specific year, make, and model of the vehicle. On some vehicles, it is possible to replace the clutch assembly, but some vehicles integrate the clutch assembly into the compressor. Determining the type of compressor and clutch assembly tells owners whether they need to purchase complete A/C compressor clutch kits or replace individually malfunctioning parts. Most manufacturers outfit new vehicles with integrated clutch assemblies that incorporate the compressor, clutch, pulley, and coil into a single unit. In this instance, if any of the parts fail, the entire assembly requires replacement along with the compressor. The benefit to this type of system is replacement greatly reduces the chance of other issues with the A/C.

The clutch, pulley, and coil make up the clutch assembly. In systems where the compressor and clutch assembly are separate, it is possible to only replace the clutch assembly. Some manufacturers make and sell these parts individually for certain vehicles, and that gives owners the option to replace one part at a lower cost than the entire assembly. Cost is often the deciding factor when it comes to choosing between original equipment, aftermarket, or remanufactured parts. With original equipment parts, replacements are the exact brands and models that originally came in the vehicles. Consumers concerned about reliability often prefer OEM parts, despite the solid reputation of most modern aftermarket parts manufacturers. Remanufactured parts consist of repaired components. Remanufacturing restores the part to like-new condition. The most significant benefits of remanufactured parts are the cost savings, reduced energy costs, and reduced waste. If the air conditioning system in your car no longer keeps you cool during the hot summer months, you might need to shop around for an A/C compressor clutch kit.

To find a wide selection of both new and remanufactured car and truck parts, visit eBay. A quick search is all it takes to find clutch assemblies, clutch coils, belts, and other air conditioning parts for all makes and models of vehicles. Get all the necessary replacement parts to ensure your car not only looks cool from the outside, but feels cool on the inside.I get a lot of questions about car air conditioning systems not blowing cold enough. Especially during hot humid summer days. Most people would like to see frigid cold air blasting from their small dash vents instantly upon request. Now that this page is getting some heavy traffic I am adding some additional information and a new “Simple Fixes” video at the bottom along with some related tools and equipment for people who want to take it to the next level. So lets get that cold air back. Remember when your car has been baking in the sun heat is stored up in large quantities and must be removed before it starts to feel cool inside.

But what if the air does not seem to get cold after 5 minutes? There are many factors involved that affect the actual output temperature at the dash AC vents. To follow will be a few examples of common problems that I find when inspecting a car air conditioning system that is not performing as well as it should be. Without a doubt the most common problem that I find is an incorrect Freon charge. The amount of Freon in the system is extremely critical. The manufacturer installs the exact amount that is required for the system to perform at its peak. This exact charge is so critical it is documented in the vehicle’s engine compartment down to the ounce. A few ounces short of a full charge can result in inadequate cooling under high heat loads due to lack of reserve refrigerant. A telltale sign of this condition would be for a compressor clutch to cycle on and off faster than usual. The rapid clicking sound generated from this condition can usually be heard from inside the vehicle.

Sometimes when people try to recharge their system on their own they will actually overcharge the system which can cause poor cooling performance just as much as low Freon levels. In extreme examples an overcharge of refrigerant can even cause AC compressor damage and noisy operation. Not as common as the Freon issue mentioned above but one that is common in my area at this time of the year is a radiator or a condenser that has been considerably clogged with bugs, dust and dirt, or road debris and trash. When this junk starts to reduce the airflow that passes through the radiator and then through the condenser it can cause higher than normal high-pressure readings. This in turn can knock several degrees off of the output temperature in the cabin. This is the kind of problem that slowly gets worse over time. It is very rare that people will take the time to check or clean the radiator and condenser. The fleet company I work for has made this operation part of the scheduled service operations.

We have a pressure washer and we physically clean the radiator and condenser fins every 20,000 miles. Although there are lots of other problems that can cause poor cooling the two mentioned above are ones that I find often. If you think your car air conditioning is not blowing cold enough the first step is to check the output temperature at the center duct with a thermometer. Make sure the recirculation or max air mode is selected and the blower is on low speed. 40 – 50 degrees is perfect. On hot humid days in south Florida 55 degrees is welcomed. Step 2 is to have a professional connect a manifold gauge set and get high and low side pressure readings. With these readings a logical path of diagnosis can get your AC blowing cold as it should be. Read more on this subject if you plan on finding a mechanic to recharge the car air-conditioning. I put together a repair modules section on my you fix cars website that talks about the theory and operation of car air conditioning.