Can I drive my car with a bad AC compressor clutch?

Can I drive my car with a bad AC compressor clutch?

Your AC pulley is a free spinning pulley that has a clutch on it. It will spin freely until you turn the air conditioning on. If the clutch doesn’t work properly, you will still be able to drive your car.

What makes an AC compressor clutch not engage?

Once you turned your air conditioning system on, the AC compressor will start rotating by engaging the clutch. This is the reason why you hear your engine makes louder noises after turning the A/C on. What makes an AC compressor clutch engage?

What should you do if your AC clutch is not engaging?

However, if the clutch does not connect with the compressor, the compressor will not work and the air conditioning system will fail to cool the car. Try checking if the clutch is in good condition by applying these steps: Turn the AC controls to maximum air conditioning.

What happens when the AC compressor is not working?

An AC compressor receives power from the engine to function with the help of the drive belt and its clutch. The AC compressor clutch is used to engage the power from the engine to the compressor. If your air conditioning system is turned off, the clutch is not engaged, hence the AC compressor is not driving.

How is the clutch connected to the AC unit?

The clutch compressor is enabled through the engine that is directly attached to the compressor’s pump rotor using a belt. However, most car AC systems now use an electromagnetic clutch piece that engages the compressor to spin the air conditioning unit.

Why does my AC clutch not engage?

Why AC clutch won’t engage. If the clutch doesn’t engage, the problem could be a blown fuse, an open in the wire to the clutch coil, a bad clutch coil, a poor ground, or a low pressure lockout. AC compressor clutches receive power in a number of ways.

How can I tell if my AC clutch is engaging?

Listen for any internal buzzing or clicking from the clutch. If the clutch fails to engage and spin, but you hear electrical buzzing or clicks inside, it indicates an internal clutch short. Listen for excessive bearing noise coming from the clutch or compressor.

Why won’t my a/C compressor clutch engage?

A compressor clutch that won’t engage can be caused by a lot of different issues, from a low refrigerant level to a blown fuse.

How do you replace AC compressor clutch?

How to replace an AC Compressor Clutch. To remove the clutch, screw in the removal tool and hold the clutch disc with the holding tool. Remove retaining nut on the compressor shaft while holding the clutch disc with the holding tool. Then install the clutch disc puller.