Is It Better To Replace The AC Clutch or Compressor?

Everyone wants their car to have cold air conditioning when it’s hot outside. If you understand the symptoms of a bad AC compressor clutch, you can tell if this part has failed or something else is wrong. The main signs are discussed in this help, and I also show you where to locate the AC compressor clutch. It would also benefit you to test it and explain what it does. Last but not least, I will show you how much an average AC compressor clutch replacement costs before I answer your most important questions. 

Signs	Description
AC Could Not Work At All	If cold air is absent, it may not necessarily be a refrigerant issue; the compressor clutch could be the culprit, requiring a thorough evaluation before replacement.
AC May Work Shortly, Then Stop	Intermittent functionality indicates potential issues with the compressor clutch, causing sporadic cold air and necessitating prompt diagnosis and resolution.
Noisy AC Compressor	Unusual sounds resembling screams may precede other signs of a failing compressor clutch, signaling potential problems with the gears that require attention.
Clutch Stopped Moving	Visual observation of a stationary clutch indicates a non-functional compressor clutch, hindering cold air production and risking damage to the serpentine belt if not promptly addressed.
AC Not Turning On Or Off	When the compressor clutch freezes, the AC may remain on or off, rendering control panel adjustments ineffective; a malfunctioning clutch can disrupt the cold air flow in either scenario.

5 Signs That Your AC Clutch Is Broken

You might be unable to cool your car or sometimes if the AC compressor clutch breaks. The compressor may also make loud noises, or the clutch may stop moving. This could cause the air to stay on or off and the refrigerant to leak. 

Ac Could Not Work At All

The most obvious sign is that the air conditioner stops blowing cold air. But if you don’t feel any cold air from the vents, you might think there isn’t enough refrigerant. But the compressor clutch is really to blame. That being said, there are several reasons why cold air might not be present. Because of this, a complete evaluation is needed before parts are replaced. 

Ac May Work Shortly, Then Stop

The AC may work sometimes before it stops totally. When the compressor clutch doesn’t always work, you might get cold air occasionally, which might not work at all other times. There is also a chance that the vents are letting out a little cooler air, but not enough. Either way, you must figure out what’s wrong before things worsen.

Noisey Ac Compressor

Strange noises happen as the compressor clutch breaks. You should be aware of this noise if it starts before any other signs appear. It makes a noise that sounds like screaming, especially when it first starts up. This noise could also mean that there is a problem with the gears.  

Clutch Stopped Moving (visually)

The clutch will stop moving if the AC compressor clutch won’t fire up. You won’t be able to get any cold air from the machine when it’s not turned on. If the clutch doesn’t let go, the AC will stay on when it shouldn’t. It could damage the serpentine belt if you don’t fix it, so you should immediately do so. 

AC Not Turning On Or Off

As previously discussed, the compressor can stay on or be turned off if the clutch freezes up. No matter what you do on the control panel, you won’t be able to turn the air conditioner on or off. Most of the time, the air conditioner’s compressor clutch will break, stopping the flow of cold air. But sometimes it’s the other way around. 

How Does The AC Compressor Clutch Work?

When you use your car’s control panel to turn on the air conditioning, a signal is sent to the AC switch in the vehicle. Power can go from the engine to the compressor through this switch. The compressor’s job is to squeeze the Freon to cool the air. The compressed refrigerant will lose pressure as it moves through the system. This is why it goes back and forth in a looped system. The clutch’s essential job is to turn on the compressor so the pressure can rise. Since it’s not there, the system doesn’t work right, and the refrigerant doesn’t get pushed up. 

How Much Does To Replace Cost An Ac Compressor Clutch?

It’s usually best to install a new compressor when repairing an air conditioning clutch. If the clutch breaks, the rest of the engine might only work briefly. It’s not worth the money to mess with the clutch. Pay between $650 and $1,400 to change an AC motor. The parts could cost between $400 and $900; the rest will be for the work. Changing an AC motor might take two to three hours on average.

Your repair prices depend on the kind of car you have and where you get it fixed. Costs of labor change from state to state. California has the most significant average labor rate, while Ohio has the lowest. Where you live makes a difference, even just in your state. Going to a mechanic in the country will cost you a lot less than going to one in a busy city. 

The best way to change the AC compressor is, of course, to do it yourself. But this might be hard to do if you must learn a lot about mechanics. Although I’m not saying you must be a pro like me, you must know how to work with the air conditioner and have specific tools. It would help if you had the right tools to empty and refill the AC system to change the AC compressor. Because of this, it might be best to let a professional with the right tools do the job.

Conclusion

Do what you can to keep the AC in your car in good shape this summer if you want to stay calm. After all, you don’t want to be sticky and hot when you get to work. You can fix the AC compressor clutch if it’s broken so the house is more relaxed. It would help if you talked to a professional to learn how to work on your car’s air conditioning. The workers who could be better at their jobs should keep this method.

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