• Home»
• Category Display

AC compressors are the mechanical motor for your air conditioning system. Basically, an AC compressor is a mini engine. The AC compressor is driven by the engine belt. An electro-magnetic clutch coil engages the clutch when the AC is on, and disengages the clutch when the AC is off. When the clutch is engaged, the compressor rotates. Pistons inside the compressor housing compress the freon, then travel through other various components of the AC system to give you that cold air.

Typical AC compressor problems are a leaking compressor (worn seals), seized compressor (internally damaged), bad clutch (could be worn to the point the clutch slips, damaged where it's engaged constantly, or an electrical magnetic failure where the coil cannot engage the clutch), or a weak compressor (the output pressure is not enough).

If your AC does not work, you have to look into what part in the system doesn't work. All components work together. A simple way to test your compressor is to push in the clutch by hand, and rotate the clutch by hand. It should spin smoothly, yet have some resistance. If you put fingers over the suction and discharge ports on the compressor, one finger should feel suction, while the other finger should want to blow off. You may need to spin the compressor several times while your fingers cover the ports. You can also apply battery power to the positive lead of the compressor and ground the negative lead, and you should hear a click and also see the clutch move towards the compressor.

AC work should always be serviced by a qualified technician to prevent freon from entering the atmosphere. NEVER discharge freon from your system, always have the freon recycled by a qualified technician and/or recovery machine.

Whenever changing a compressor, you MUST change the accumulator/receiver dryer with a new one, and also change the expansion valve/orifice tube. You should always flush ALL of the AC components. Metal debris from the compressor piston rings normally ends up in the high side (condenser, liquid lines, orifice tube, etc), and if you do not flush your system, the debris that is in those components will get recycled into your replacement compressor, as well as your new accumulator/receiver dryer.