The programmer sends a voltage (9-12V) out terminal D4 through the Hi Pressure cutout
switch, through the pressure cycling switch, to terminal D11 of the PCM requesting the PCM to
turn on the A/C compressor clutch. When the PCM sees this voltage, it turns the clutch on and
when the voltage disappears, the PCM disables the clutch. Normal operation results in a steady
voltage out of the programmer when it wants the clutch on. This voltage is turned on and off by
the pressure cycling switch as required by the refrigerant pressures. The PCM also monitors
how fast the pressure cycling switch cycles. If the cycling occurs too fast, the PCM sets a Code
66 and disables the compressor until corrective measures have been affected. If the PCM sees
the failure in three consecutive ignition cycles, the code will permanently disable the AUTO
mode until repairs are made.
The PCM assumes that the rapid cycling of the voltage is due to a low state of refrigerant
charge in the system causing the cycling switch to open and close rapidly. The PCM will keep
the clutch disengaged and send the programmer a message over the serial data stream (circ.
800) telling the programmer why it has turned the clutch off. When the programmer receives
this message, it will stop sending voltage out terminal D4 and force the control panel to "ECON"
mode. If "AUTO" is then attempted to be re-selected, the programmer will force "ECON" to
continuously reappear until the problem has been corrected and the Code 66 cleared from the
PCM along with going through the "Clear Codes" function (OC3) in the climate control on-board
diagnostics. The "Clear Codes" function must be completed even though the on-board
diagnostics show "00" in the code display. The problem could be the result of a low state of
charge, an intermittent electrical connection, or a short to ground on the compressor request
circuit.