I think the air gap on my A/C Clutch is too big. I get really cold air for about 10-15 minutes (depends on ambient temp) then my a/c starts blowing hot. When the a/c goes hot, my efan will stay on, but the clutch will not engage.

One problem: I can get the center nut off of the a/c clutch. Is there a special tool required for this? I don't have any way of keeping the clutch from spinning when I try to remove the nut.
Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.

 

You are low on Freon.

Core is icing up.

Fix.

 

I added some freon already, but not much. I'm afraid of overfilling and I've read that adding too much can cause the same symptoms as having too little with this compressor.

What should the psi be on the low pressure side if I have enough freon (at 80* ambient)?

 

40 PSI comes to mind but I could be wrong, as I am not an A/C tech.

Further research would be wise.

 

I just did this last weekend. I used a piece of flat stock steel and positioned it between two of the four rivets on the front of the a/c clutch. There is just enough engagement to allow you to hold it stationary long enough to loosen the nut. The nut is not all that tight and it did the trick. Once I got it off, there was a good deal of crud inside that I cleaned out with a brass brush and I removed one shim. Lastly I blew everything down with compressed air. Works great now.

 

Service manual is online:

http://www.sanden.com/originals/imag...uide_Rev.2.pdf

That said, unless the clutch is engaging and slipping, it probably isn't the clutch.

 

Thank you, everyone. I am starting to think it might not be the clutch. I may have to take it to a shop.

 

When my '87 did what yours is doing, it was about 3/4 to 1 lb. low of Freon.

 

Probably less expensive in the long run, just take it.

 

Measure it ? If you tap the clutch does it engage ?

 

I finally found a spanner wrench and with it, was able to get the center nut off the a/c clutch. I removed 2 shims and sanded down some of the rust on the backside of the clutch. I've tested it in 90+* weather and it stayed on for over 30 minutes before I shut it off, I didn't have time to let it run any longer, but so far it's doing better than before. The r-134a pressure seems to be maintaining pretty well.

I don't think this compressor has too much life on it after looking over the clutch's condition, but I'm hoping to get one last summer out of it. I'm going to keep an eye on it.

 

I ended up buying a new clutch face plate off of ebay as the old one was in rough shape (it was worn down unevenly on the back and kind of bowed inwards.) It would still disengage after some time or would start to squeal real bad. You find replacement faceplates on ebay for about 35$ and the one I got was brand new, and it came with some shims.

The belt squeal ended up being because my belt wasn't tight enough for when the a/c was engaged with a full charge. *duh*.

Currently 105* today in Salt Lake City and the a/c was working good for the 45 minutes I was driving around town. Hopefully it lasts, I think there are still some small adjustments to the belt and/or # of shims to get it really working great.

Now the only problem is coolant temp creep with the a/c on... zj fan clutch is this weekends project.