AC compressor engages for a second and shuts off - blowing hot air

[RoadRamblerNJ]

Ahhh, the good ole days...when you could by a 20 lb tank of R-12 for like $54.

 

[Wahrsuul]

The clutch seizing up has nothing to do with the oil in the AC system. For the oil to be low/leak out, he would have been low or out of refrigerant. The clutching assembly and bearings for it are completely outside of the sealed refrigerant system.

The bigger question is the clutch assembly replaceable without having to replace the entire compressor if it gives him problems again.

He said the compressor had locked up a little, not the clutch. The clutch was engaging, just not for long.

 

[crash68]

He said the compressor had locked up a little, not the clutch. The clutch was engaging, just not for long.

AC compressors don't "lock up a little"..if something stops them from spinning internally, they grenade themselves. Auto AC compressors don't require much hp to run, there is 100+ driving it, it's a no win situation.
Clutches on the other hand can hang up and could potentially be freed up.
The mechanic probably "dumbed down" the explanation of what happened. If the customer hears that the clutch was locking up, they will want that replaced. As soon as the mechanic says you can't just replace the clutch, the customer think he is getting screwed.

 

[Wahrsuul]

I wondered, I've never seen a compressor "lock a little bit", was using his term, but I'm far from an x-spurt.

 

[SLT617]

AC compressors don't "lock up a little"..if something stops them from spinning internally, they grenade themselves. Auto AC compressors don't require much hp to run, there is 100+ driving it, it's a no win situation.
Clutches on the other hand can hang up and could potentially be freed up.
The mechanic probably "dumbed down" the explanation of what happened. If the customer hears that the clutch was locking up, they will want that replaced. As soon as the mechanic says you can't just replace the clutch, the customer think he is getting screwed.

My guess is that he dumbed it down for me as well. So are we assuming the clutch was having issues engaging? Either way I'm happy to have my AC back.

 

[JT Tew]

I am having the same problem with my air conditioning in my 2001 Dodge ram 2500. I just replace the AC line that has the fixed orifice tube and I noticed the line was full of gunk. I vacuumed out and recharge the system and the air conditioning work great for about 5 minutes then started blowing hot air. Here is what the gauges read when the AC system was on maximum and blowing hot air.