A/C Clutch Not Engaging

[AmericanMade717]

Hey guys, sorry I haven't been on lately, I've been busy at college, anyway since ive been gone at college for the longest time and my Astro van has only been driven on the few weekends when i come back, it has been sitting in my driveway at home all winter. When i came back for Thanksgiving break the A/C compressor was working, but the IAC Valve went on it, and scince it will be 50 degrees in central Jersey tomorrow, I'm planning on buying it tomorrow and putting a new one in. Then I never used the A/C over winter break but when I came back a few weeks ago, the A/C compressor wasn't kicking in. I have a 94' Astro and the A/C system has never been touched, it has never been charged, and no components have been changed. Last summer my A/C compressor was making a slight wine, you could barely hear it and i never noticed it sometimes but it was, I though it was normal. Then my dad told me one day he took it out for a drive and it was making a weird wining noise, it doesn't make the noise anymore, and IDK if that noise has anything to do with the A/C compressor, however, I came back, and the A/C clutch will not engage. Worst comes to worse, I'll replace the A/C compressor in the summer and recharge the system, however, I'm wondering if it could be something electrical, or a relay, that could be causing it not to engage. Aslo my friend said it might need a charge, but IDK if it having no charge in it will not let the A/C compressor engage. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks guys!

[Phantom]

. Aslo my friend said it might need a charge, but IDK if it having no charge in it will not let the A/C compressor engage. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks guys!

If it is too low on refrigerant it will not kick on , if van has a small leak it can cause it , that is one reason why the compressor runs on defrost in order to keep the refrigerant compressed under pressure it help prevent loss , you can jump the electrical terminal on the pressure sensor on the line to see it that will make the compressor come on then you can see if there is a noise

[AmericanMade717]

Thank you! That sounds like a good idea. I didn't know there was a pressure sensor. After I fix my IAC valve tomorrow I might bring it over to my friends and see if thats the case, if it is he's got some freon so I'll charge it up and see if it leaks out again. Thank you!

[AmericanMade717]

Yup, I just jumped the sensor and the compressor kicked right in and it sounded like normal. I think tomorrow I'm going to charge the system up and see if it helps, then I'll be able to see how big the leak is by seeing if I still have a charge next time I come home from college. Over last summer I A/C compressor was kicking out for a couple seconds every once in a while so I'm hoping it's a very small leak. Thanks again for your help, I'll keep posted on the info of the van.

[chevymaher]

Mine did that started out charging it every spring 2 years then it got to lasting only 2 weeks the last time.It was leaking from the compressor clutch seal.

[AmericanMade717]

Yeah I'm going to charge it up when it gets a little warmer out and see how long it last. As far as the IAC valve goes, I replaced it and it runs great, the idle is normal and much smoother, its still slightly ruff here and there but you can barely notice it and I think thats another part causing that. Good news is my van is no longer sitting, due to my internship I can now bring it to college which is about a hour and a half drive one way and I have to drive home every weekend. On the first trip down i was pulling 85 and the check engine for the EGR valve came on again and it was running like ****, I let her cool off and put a bottle of STP Octane Booster in and it's been running fine ever scince, now I usually cruise at 65 (no more than 70) down and it drive and runs great!

Hey chevymaher, you got some nice rides, I like that Chevelle and that Safari is pretty clean too. Is your Safari a "W" vin like mine? Also how's your highway millage with those 4.10's? I was thinking on putting in 3.73's this summer but my highway millage already sucks. And I really like the wide tires man, that makes it look beast, how wide are those? My tires are pretty new but when it came time for a new set I was thinking some wider BFGoodrich Radia T/A's.

[Splendid]

Hi Guys, I have the same problem, compressor clutch not engaging. However I jumped the pressure sensor and it still didnt work. I then jumped the ac relay in the fuse box and it kicked in. So I ordered a new relay and stuck it in…no joy Any ideas as to what to check next??

Many thanks,
Rob