97 Lumina, A/C Dead, Compressor Not Engaging,

[wcshort]

Hey Folks,

1997 Lumina, 3.1V6, 100K miles, Blue w/dents...

It's HOT and the A/C just went out. It was a two day process. The first sign of trouble was a whining noise coming from the compressor, the air was blowing consistently cool but not nearly as cold as before. The very next day the compressor will not engage at all (outer pulley spinning, but clutch is stationary) and no noise comes from the compressor and there is no cooling of the air.

I am leaning toward the compressor being dead but I am not sure what the procedure is for checking the system. A friend mentioned that I could bypass the low pressure switch and see what happens but I have no idea where to find it.

Feel free to chime in and let me know where to start. Thanks in advance.

[brcidd]

Compressor is "ded" because you lost all your refrigerant due to a leak---65% of mobile a/c failure are due to a leak--
Most likely a shaft seal and compressor belly leak---which can be resealed- but most just opt for a new compressor;

97 Lumina (vans- APVs) with rear air are prone to the liquid line leak just above the gas tank filler tube- under the rubber insulator...Is yours oily there?

Is yours a APV or a sedan...

[wcshort]

Thanks, it is a sedan.
What would be my first step in checking to see if it is a leak?

[jeffcoslacker]

Seems like the V5's like to leak from the front seal....clutch gets oily, slips, burns up. Wouldn't surprise me...

If you got a gauge for at least the low side you could see if there's any static pressure in the system...if there were enough to operate at all you'd see 60-90 psi or more on the low side without the compressor running...if nothing there, you had a catastrophic leak...that much that fast is usually gonna reveal itself with a lotta compressor oil coming from the area.

If you've still got pretty high static pressure in the system, you could try bypassing the low pressure switch (not sure but I'd bet it's under the airbox where the receiver/dryer....big aluminum can looking thing is)...or just hotwire up the leads to the clutch and shoot power to it and see what happens...but if the system pressure is very low or dead, don't try it...you WILL burn up the compressor quick running with no charge...

If the clutch won't snap down and engage when you bypass or hotwire, it's fried.

[Tech II]

Believe this system has a pressure switch(3 wire), that can't be jumped....need to check low side pressure.....

[brcidd]

Yeah- never jump a 3-wire transducer-- there's your first hint...

[wcshort]

Thanks guys. I'll find a pressure gauge that will work and report back. Might be a week or more (family vacation next week). At least we weren't planning on taking this car. I'll keep you posted.