threw the gauges on the car the other nite to see if i could get my a/c charged up again to blow cold. I havent touched the system for the last three years since we put about one can of R12 in it so i figured it was just low. After trying to get the clutch to cycle for awhile- and seeing that my 12v power wire had been rubbing the belt-i fixed that and tested for power. Im getting 12v to the compressor w/ the motor running and the ground is good but the clutch is not engaging. Has anyone had any luck changing out the clutch on their compressor and can i do it on the car or do i need to vac the system and pull the compressor to do it?

 

You can change the clutch without removing the compressor and evacuating the system. There is a good writeup on the procedure on Pelican (911 compressor, but same idea.).

 

dan,
are ya sure you have enough refrigerant in the system to engage???
if too low the clutch will not engage....
good luck

 

That's the first thing to check. I just did both cars and on the 83 I had to let the LP side slowly pull from the can with the AC off for about a 1/2 hour before the clutch would kick in.The LP side was only 8-10 psi when I started. Another RL'er showed me this trick and it worked. The 86 took 13 oz and the 83 took 24 oz to get sub 55 deg. at the vent @ 90-95 deg. ambient. What I find strange is that the vent temps with my remote thermometer look much higher (60-65 deg.) while charging even with a stout floor fan blowing over the condensor. When I get in the car and drive it the vent temp drops as much as 15 deg. from the results while charging...more airflow I guess.

 

I have a clutch here that I got to fix mine but I ended up not needing it. Got it off another lister who installed it and drove for about a month before doing an AC delete. Been sitting on the bench for about a year now. If you need it shoot me over an offer.

 

well the problem is that the clutch has power going to it...it wouldnt unless it was calling for power. The numbers on the gauge all look good for the clutch to come on, just doesnt. Travis i have no idea what a clutch is worth, lemme know what you'll take. Dan.

 

Its probably the coil inside the clutch (all one piece). If it brakes then it doesn't magnetize when it gets power and doesn't engage the clutch. You can test it with a ohm meter. Put one lead on the one wire and the other... on the other wire and see if it is a closed circuit. If not then your coil inside the clutch is indeed bad, which is what it seems like.
I just looked up and I paid Todd $45 for it but I will take $25 since its just sitting here. Use the ohm meter and find out if that is what is wrong first though.