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stevemay09
New User
Sep 15, 2012, 8:32 PM
Post #1 of 9
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ac clutch doesn't engage
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OK, 1998 Buick Regal GS, 3.8 liter Supercharged, 129K, with the dual climate controller.
Did a rebuild, and then noticed ac blew hot on drive side, cold on passenger side. took it to the dealer, they said buy a new controller. I couldn't immediately afford that 700.00, so I took the car home and parked it. Trying to get it going again, I notice the ac doesn't work at all now. Checked and the refrigerant had leaked out. Put it on a vacuum, looked ok, and charged it. It leaked out. So, I replaced compressor, accumulator, o-tube and pressure switch, put it back on a vacuum, and waited about 3 hours. So, now I hook up my gauges, and get a can ready to go, start the car and turn the ac on, and open the low side gauge. 1 can eventually took the gauges up to 90 lbs, but the compressor still never engaged. Does this still sound like a controller problem? I've found some on ebay for around 100.00, or at the local junkyard for around 150.00, and am planning on getting one, but I wonder what to do if that isn't actually the problem.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2012, 5:01 AM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: ac clutch doesn't engage
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Nobody is going to be able to tell you what the problem is without testing the circuit. There are dozens of things that could prevent the compressor from coming on. The could also need a professional scan tool to diagnose it.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Sep 16, 2012, 7:42 AM
Post #3 of 9
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Re: ac clutch doesn't engage
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How did this "dealer" determine a control head was the problem when this smacks of then proved that it leaked out the refrigerant? CCOT systems which this seems to be by parts you replaced would shut down compressor. GM in around then an on would prevent compressor engagement again until reset and can't say exactly how this exact one is done.
I'm not so sure you are dealing with an electrical failure at all - it leaked out its charge.
Did you add appropriate amount of specified oil for the parts replaced? Did you pre spin the replacement compressor by hand to know it had lube for when it would first start up? If not you'll need to go back. If that compressor was dry and starts up at engine speed it will self destruct in short order.
How much oil did you get out of parts replaced and how much did you add and where? All that needed no matter what if any real electrical problems exist at all,
T
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2012, 9:20 AM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: ac clutch doesn't engage
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Just using some associative properties of "been there" with a problem like this. Dual controls may be messing up what the real problem is. Evap on passenger's side by nature would have more BTUs of cooling for the closest path to outlet vent available confused by the dual control in this but it did cool, compressor was working before it was touched if only on one side.
So far can't even get back to that. Crystal ball says dealer put gauges on it and deduced the readings were credible which we can't verify. So my WAG is this has a ball valve port or either way that didn't seal right just from checking and there goes the charge. It didn't like that of course. Computer knows in no time that it is out of limits to allow compressor engagement based probably both on pressure and temps noted. Buick/Cadillac scare me in some additional ideas that some other GMs didn't do till later.
So it sat for some time unknown how long. Didn't hold vacuum? Back when it only worked on one side it would have so what happened? Then all the listed items get tossed and some of a charge is in there that reading suggests just a static pressure and really don't know how much is in there but still not totally the issue and could be later.
IDK - this dealer diagnosis that was priced out isn't clear or consistent with needing compressor, accumulator, switch etc not reflected in that quote to fix it. My problem with the events is WHAT HAPPENED?
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2012, 9:30 AM
Post #6 of 9
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Re: ac clutch doesn't engage
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Late model GMs are notorious for being colder on one side than the other when only slightly low on refrigerant. I would be very shocked if the dealer wasn't aware of this and didn't do an evacuate and recharge before condemning anything else. For right now though there is an electrical issue preventing the compressor from coming on after it has reached static pressure. I would try disconnecting the battery for 1 minute and try again just in case the module is storing a code and preventing restart. You may ultimately need a scanner to see if the computer is seeing the correct pressure.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Sep 16, 2012, 9:47 AM
Post #7 of 9
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Re: ac clutch doesn't engage
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Yes - I was going to mention but can't know exact for each but in some without any funky detailed info the compressor would shut down and not reset until battery was disconnected for X amount of time gave you a grace period to hopefully quickly get it to a credible charge and could polish it off to perfect weight.
That specific car had a sticker that said to do that in plain English right beside the capacity sticker - factory GM stickers (a Cadillac) and who knows if they were that nice for all models designed that way or if it is missing now? Scared to suggest that without knowing if any alarm system would become another issue,
T
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stevemay09
New User
Sep 16, 2012, 12:03 PM
Post #8 of 9
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Re: ac clutch doesn't engage
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as far as the oil, the rebuilt compressor had 1/4 oz of oil in it...I looked in the manual, it says 2oz + what was drained...I put a total of about 3 oz in the compressor, and turned the clutch by hand a dozen times. The accumulator was dry, but I added about 2 1/2 oz to it. While i did vacuum the system, I did not flush the condensor or evaperator, the main reason being that there really wasn't anything wrong with the compressor I replaced...I did it for the warranty. The system had been open during the rebuild, and I figured the dessicant was compromised, and wasn't sure of the reliability of the factory compressor anymore. Screens and o-tube were free of debris. Point is I don't know how much oil is left in the evaporator and condenser. The system capacity is 9 oz...it is my hope that there is at least 3 1/2 oz in them. This vehicle had a similar problem when my father owned it, that it blew cold on one side and hot on the other,following a battery replacement,and the dealership replaced the controller (400.00 back then). Anyway, I am about to give up, and take it to the shop I've gotten most of the labor intensive stuff done, so I won't have to pay much in labor cost
I don't understand what you mentioned about having to "reset"??
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