A/C Compressor not coming on

Rich just called me from Florida. As you guys saw he took my '96 Roady to the auctions in Kissimee and it's performed great on the trip, until today. The a/c compressor is not coming on. He tried the take-the-battery-off trick and that didn't fix it, followed by the paperclip trick on the low pressure switch. Still nothing.

Rich and Robbi are supposed to drive home to Texas tomorrow, and considering it's in the 80's here, and I'm sure it's warm in Florida, he'd like to have a/c. Any ideas??

-Mike

It's low on freon. There is a "safety" that prevents it from running when the freon is low. If he can get the AC charged in FL, that should do it. He'll eventually have to find the leak, but he'll be able to get home.

Been there, done that.


Tom

Tom, even if he is low, the compressor would have come on when he shorted the connector.

If the fuses are good (he checked the fuses, right?), tell him to go to a parts store/Target/WalMart/whatever and pick up one of the refill cans with a gauge on it. It will only be about twenty bucks. Get the connector on the accumulator and check the pressure. He doesn't want to actually add anything, just check the pressure. System off, it should be at least 30lbs on the low side (going from memory here). It will be pretty obvious if it has pressure or not. It should have turned on the compressor with the jumper on the connector, so suspect electrical, not pressure. Check the fuses

Thanks all. I'd already told him to check fuses. He's running to the parts store for a can if 134 with a gauge on it.

Update when I hear back. Hope it comes back to life.

If the freon is low enough,it may take a while after jumping the switch for the compressor to kick on and then it will only engage for a second or 2.On my OCC thats what happens and you can only
charge the system for those few seconds,eventually the compressor clutch will start engaging for
longer and longer periods enabling you to put in more freon until charged.Sounds harder than it
really is.