My a/c doesn't work. I know it used to cycle the clutch alot but now it doesn't turn the clutch at all. I am guessing I had a coolant leak which in turn burnt the clutch up. Can anyone point me to a thread that pretty much starts me off at square one of things to check.

 

I forgot to mention, I drive a 99 xj sport 4.0

 

Get or find a set of guages and see what you have in the system, then find someone with a leak detector and grab a can of 134a and charge it and leak check it. If the freon level gets too low it won't cycle the compressor so it may not be damaged. Normally if the compressor locks up while it's been running it will burn the belt up too. Common freon leaks are found at the evaporator which means removal of the dash.

 

I was afraid of that. I did the low pressure switch connection and it made the motor rev up but the compressor still did not kick in. That's why I thought the clutch was out. Is that a sign of anything? Dash removal does not sound fun.

 

When I bypass the low pressure switch it makes the motor rev up, but the clutch does not kick in. Is this what it is supposed to do or is my clutch bad

 

There is a single wire that goes the AC clutch, apply 12V to this and see if the clutch engages. This should be done with the engine off first to make sure it works at all. If it does you could do this very briefly while the engine is running to make sure the compressor spins- BUT ONLY FOR A COUPLE SECONDS THOUGH!

Once you verify this then it's time to take it somewhere to have the rest of the system checked out.

 

I tried touching a wire to the compressor wire and nothing happened but a quick spark. So I got a can of freon and put it in( no pressure previously) now the gauge says 65. The motor revs up but the compressor clutch(center) does not turn. What now? Is compressor bad?

 

ac on high temp set to coldest setting bring motor up off idle see if taking freon in can will get cold in hand...

 

No it brought the pressure up a bit more but bringing up the rpm's did not make the can cold. When I put the can on it to begin with it brought the pressure up from zero to 65, but the second time (just now) the can did not get cold.

 

It's been a while since the ac has worked. Could the compressor be the leak and the problem?

 

The a/c system contains oil as well as refrigerant....do u notice any oily residue any place on the condenser, at the 4 quick connects, the dryer, any of the metal/rubber hoses? About the only other place to leak is the evap under the dash, as mentioned.

 

also check if it is grounded good, sometimes not having a clean ground will do that.

 

if your ac clutch isn't engauging then the compressor isn't going to turn and the sysem wont get pressurized- nothing will work. it's possible that just the clutch is bad. but you need to verify the compressor still turns, if even just by hand.

 

^^^what he said if cans not getting cold system is not accepting freon

 

have all fuses been checked and current confirmed on both sides of fuses with test light key in run position? Also more information on xj will get more precise answers