2001 Taurus AC Compressor Revolutions?

[wilkerson3]

With the help of a friend we just replaced the AC compressor in my wife's 2001 Taurus. We recharged the unit with freon. My wife has driven the Taurus the past few days and she says it takes about 5 minutes for the compressor to quit "clicking on and off" and when it quits clicking the AC was much cooler.

Today I drove the car and after we were driving a while I turned on the AC and the compressor was going through it's on and off revolutions. I didn't want to ruin anything so I turned off the AC. Tonight I went out to the car, turned on the engine, turned on the AC and popped the hood. I could see the compressor start and stop and then start again. It remained on this time. I turned off the AC and then turned on again and the compressor remained on. I drove it a while with AC off. Turned off engine and restarted and the compressor remained on (without any off and on again revolutions).

Is it normal to have the compressor take time to "warm" up without the revolutions? I have never had any other car do this. We didn't want to run the compressor and ruin something. What else might be causing the compressor to turn off and on?

[shorod]

Do you know that the charge is correct (used a gauge set that monitors both high and low pressures at the same time)? Did you install the proper amount of oil when you installed the new compressor? Also, it's often recommended that you replace at least the orifice tube when installing a new compressor, was that done? Does the electric cooling fan work correctly when the A/C compressor clutch is engaged?

-Rod