Thread: AC not working

I have a 2003 Grand Prix and now that it's getting warm in MI I went to turn on my AC and it doesn't work. The compressor isn't turning on at all. Last year a little before it was too cold to use the air I think I heard the start of this going bad. When I turned on my air, my car would have a shaky idle, the compressor(i think) was noisy and when I took off from a light I would hear a whine. But only when the air was on. I should have looked into it then but I didn't. I'm guessing that was the sound of something failing but I'm not sure what.

Now this year it won't work at all and I'm searching the internet and manuals to see if I can find out what happened. I figure I can give this a try and see if anyone can give me a staring point on what to look for. I really don't know much about the ac on cars, I'm going to ask my dad because he will know some things to check and know how to test electrical and pressure. I would like to figure it out so I don't have to take it somewhere and pay an outrageous price for repair.

If anyone can help out I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks

first sheck and see if their is voltage to the ac compressor clutch. take the wires off and test with a volt meter with the car calling for ac if you have voltage then the clutch if fried. most compressors, if they fail internally, will still pull in the clutch of lock up completely. i doubt thats the case. the only thing is i dont know if you can just buy the clutch. check autozone as they can also rant you the loaner tool to remove the clutch. worse case senario, get an ac delete and role down the windows lol good luck

thanks, I will try to test the voltage, if it fried how hard it it to change out the compressor?

I just looked at auto zone and they do just sell the clutch. I'm going to my parents tomorrow so I'm going to have my dad look at my unit. Hopefully we can determine the bad part. The clutch is only 60 bucks if thats it, the whole compressor assembly ranges from 260 to 370 on autozone. I'll hope for the cheaper part. I bet that would cost a lot to have a auto repair shop do that work.

the compressor isnt too hard to change. the problem is recharging. after you assemble the system you can rent the "gauge manifold" and "vacuum pump" from autozone. itll take a few days as they dont stock these loner tools in their stores they will come from their warehouse but it is still a loaner tool. then use the gause and pump to put the systme in a vacuum. run the pump all night if you want. you can never have to good of a vacuum. then charge the system with the right amount of refrierant. i stress the RIGHT amount. too many people ocercharge for a cooler ac unit but that only leads to shortened compressor life and the unit will take more horsepower to run its actually a lot easier than it sounds

That doesn't sound too hard. If it comes to that I will make sure I do it proper an not overcharge.

good luck. im not sure as of the exact proceedure to replace the clutch but your repair manual will state all that. if you have any questionsa about charging or pulling the vacuum write me

Ok, I've been searching the forum for my ac problems and not found any answers. I finally got to check my system out today. My ac still will not kick on and looking for any advise I can get. My dad thought maybe I had a leak but he hooked up his gauges and he said there's enough pressure in the system for it to work. We checked the fuse and it was good. We pulled the plug that goes to the ac compressor and he tested the voltage and it only read 2.5 volts. He though it should be 12 volts going to the compressor. Does anybody know what it should be getting? Ifs its not getting enought what would be causing that?

I also see people saying to test the relay fuse. How do you do that? I told him about that but he is not that familiar with a lot of the newer car stuff. DOUGLASMELTER said to check for voltage going to the clutch but how do I jump it to see if it will kick on?

My original post I mentioned last year I noticed that when the ac kicked on my car would idle harder than normal but only when the air came on. Also, it would make a squeeliong noise when I would hit my gas, not real loud but loud enough to hear it inside the car. Maybe if anyone know what that might be. I'm just looking for any input on whatelse to do with it. A few post makes me think it could be the clutch but I'd like to trouble shoot the less expensive thing and obvious things first.

Thanks

I have the same problem. I've been reading about the "jumping" and would like know how to do it.

Does anybody know how to jump a ac compressor clutch??anyone? My dad is going to look a some other thing tomorrow so I'm just looking for anything on my problem here.