I thought it would be best for me to add my question to this thread. I charged my compressor and got it to work for about five minutes... Once I turned the Jeep off, I heard hissing coming from the compressor, and a nice circle of fluid all over that looks to have originated from the compressor pulley. Is there a seal behind the clutch that I can replace?

 

Yes, the front seal is replaceable. You have to take off the compressor, remove the clutch, then pull apart the compressor. Not really difficult, actually kinda fun to do.

Get the model # and make of the compressor - Sanden, Mitshubishi etc. - do a search on the web for it - You'll find parts and instructions.

Most of us find it's easier to just replace the compressor - but if you are a fair wrench it's doable.
Rent the clutch puller tool from a parts house.
Get oil and Freon.
Use lots of oil reassembling - and keep it very clean.

 

Im really glad I found this thread as I was about to drop $$$$ on parts!!!

My 01' hasn't had ac for a few years. Five years ago I had it charged and it lasted a year. At that time the compressor was screaming and the tech added oil and quieted it down.

The following summer I had it charged adn the cold air goodness lasted three days.

I didn't have the money to burn so I left it as is.

This year I'm bound and determined to have A/C.


My Compressor is not coming on so I did the low pressure switch jumper thing RRICH described and my compressor came on nice and steady.

I plugged it back in and the compressor started kicking on and off.

So if I'm reading all this correctly I have a good compressor and clutch and my pressure switch is working.

Also, before I jumped the switch there was not enough pressure to engage the system. RRICH said that you build pressure quickly by jumping the switch. So when I plugged the switch BACK in there is just enough pressure to kick in the compressor sporadically?

So I'm low on refrigerant and since I lost ac so quickly so long ago I have leak somewhere? That sound about right?

 

rrich - really appreciate your input - have an 01 with what appears to be an intermittent clutch issue. Before finding this thread ( which is an excellent example of the value of forums like this ) I had disconnected the connector at the clutch and found battery voltage there. The voltage came and went with the position of the dash selector switch but no clutch action. Looked at the resistance of the clutch coil and found ~23K ohms, that seems like an open to the 12V system I would think. Then I read your suggestion of jumping directly to the battery - clutch engaged - now clutch is working normally ( go figure ). I'm thinking this is a temporary condition and the thing is still broke.
So point of this post is to thank you guys/gals and ask what you figure the reasonable fix cost I am looking at should be? Replace just the clutch or compressor/clutch as a unit??