A/C Clutch
cpeepels
05-15-2007, 12:22 PM
I have an '01 Taurus that I bought 3 years ago. I feel like I've been putting WAY too much $$$ in this thing over the last year or so. I had to have the ball joints replaced, the rear struts, the front passenger seat belt fixed (which is now locked up again & probably needs replaced)...now they are telling me that the A/C clutch is bad. They also said that if it is not cooling as it should be, I will probably need a compressor. :banghead: Isn't there a tool to test that? What if it just needs a freon charge?
They tell me it is OK for now, but if I continue to drive it without getting it fixed, it could burn up the compressor. Is that only if I actually USE the AC? I prefer to ride with the wind in my hair, so I use the AC very few times per year.
If anyone has advice, I would love to hear it.
They tell me it is OK for now, but if I continue to drive it without getting it fixed, it could burn up the compressor. Is that only if I actually USE the AC? I prefer to ride with the wind in my hair, so I use the AC very few times per year.
If anyone has advice, I would love to hear it.
shorod
05-15-2007, 01:43 PM
If the clutch is bad and causing the compressor to stay engaged, along with a low refrigerant charge, this could damage the compressor even if you are not using the A/C. However, I don't really see how a clutch could fail and cause the compressor to remain engaged.
The lubricating oil for the A/C system is carried by the refrigerant, so if the charge is low and you use the A/C, it could conceptually damage the system, but he pressure switches should prevent that from happening.
The biggest concern would be if the clutch is about to fail in such a way that would cause the pulley to fall off. I'm not sure that is a very likely scenario either. You may want to consider a second opinion, but don't tell the shop what the previous place told you, just suggest the A/C doesn't seem to cool as well as it used to.
-Rod
The lubricating oil for the A/C system is carried by the refrigerant, so if the charge is low and you use the A/C, it could conceptually damage the system, but he pressure switches should prevent that from happening.
The biggest concern would be if the clutch is about to fail in such a way that would cause the pulley to fall off. I'm not sure that is a very likely scenario either. You may want to consider a second opinion, but don't tell the shop what the previous place told you, just suggest the A/C doesn't seem to cool as well as it used to.
-Rod
cpeepels
06-12-2007, 09:28 AM
Well, my serpentine belt broke, so I am looking for the parts to be replaced now.
Found them at a reputable auto salvage for less than 1/2 the cost of new. Glad about that, but ran into a snag.
They gave me 2 possibilities & said that I need to probably bring the part in to make sure I get the right match. Is there an easier way to be sure?
They told me it would be one of the following:
F7DH-19D629-AA
1F1H-19D629-AA
How can I be sure without having the bad part from my car. Where can I find this information? Is there somewhere that I can run the VIN# to find out?
Found them at a reputable auto salvage for less than 1/2 the cost of new. Glad about that, but ran into a snag.
They gave me 2 possibilities & said that I need to probably bring the part in to make sure I get the right match. Is there an easier way to be sure?
They told me it would be one of the following:
F7DH-19D629-AA
1F1H-19D629-AA
How can I be sure without having the bad part from my car. Where can I find this information? Is there somewhere that I can run the VIN# to find out?
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