(I’m the one who tried giving her a jump. An electrical failure can result in a buildup of acids that cause a great deal of … Got a juicy car meme? A seized A/C pulley won't stop it from starting. First thing is to start with checking the freon pressure. I had to get it towed to the shop. Marnet May 2, 2018, 2:40am #6 George, yes, you are correct. Your title says the “condenser” locked up. You might want to bring your vehicle into a trusted dealership or repair shop to prevent causing further damages to your vehicle. If your compressor stops at 120 PSI for example, it would typically start around the 90 PSI tank pressure level. A bad condensing fan motor will stop a compressor from working. Remove the old AC Compressor Switch and replace with the component. Let’s find out. AC not working in car. Probably the easiest thing to do is locate the appropriate relay and pull it. If you turn on your air conditioner and you only get hot air blowing out of the … While AC pump noise is totally normal for your car’s air conditioner, hissing at any other point may give you reason to visit your mechanic, just like a buzzing noise. Professional maintenance can prevent a car's air conditioning compressor from seizing, or locking up. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Cartalk is full of redditors with a wide variety of automotive background ranging from professional mechanic to guys who have restored entire cars in their garage. The compressor is the part the engine turns via the serpentine belt. Try disconnecting the electrical connector at the a/c compressor then trying to start the vehicle. I think you should get another technician to look at the vehicle You may need to remove the existing rubber O-ring gasket during the process. I’ll see if I can edit both the post title and in my OP. Bad oil: As with a car, if the oil in the compressor becomes viscous, it will ruin the motor and cause a failure. Have an answer or just a good tip? Hot Air From Vents. As everything on my car is working fine since attempting the jump the answer is likely not. The Idle Control Actuator is what controls the engine idle. This set costs about $35. Unlike the old fixed displacement compressor (FDC), the variable displacement compressor (VDC) automatically varies its pumping capacity to meet air-conditioning demands. The other part is that the AC pump was locked and the serpentine belt just would not every thing turn and if it had started the belt would have fried in a heart beat. A bad ac compressor preventing a car from starting, that's an interesting one. You know, the ones that are really awkward to clean? Compressor failure tends to happen due to problems in another part of the system that lead to increased strain. no... when you try to start a vehicle, nowadays, the a/c compressor clutch is not energized. In order to successfully replace the AC Compressor Switch, adhere to these steps: Drain all refrigerant in the AC Compressor. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, A/C Compressor Lockup Keeps Car From Starting. Open the hood and look on the left side near the front of the vehicle for your AC compressor. Pair of typical pressure switches for different types of compressors. What Causes Short Cycling Multifunctional compressor AC cooling system usually requires a huge volume of power from the engine placing too much load that the compressor might not be capable of handling. The main tool used to check AC condenser components is an electric multimeter. Acid and moisture: With our humid climates, moisture in the compressor is a constant concern. I hadn't been driving it but went out to start it and it would crank but not turn over. I had someone sit inside and start it while I looked to see if any pulleys weren't turning and lo and behold the a/c compressor pulley was stuck. The A/C pulley is on a clutch that allows it to free wheel when the compressor does not need to be on. (We had to add that last part for good reason, sadly. If you are unable to run do this, fear not. So it wouldn't be the problem until you release the … When the AC is off, the compressor clutch does not activate, meaning the AC is not straining the engine. If your car AC has a multifunctional compressor, then its most likely putting too much load on the car engine. Finally, we are going to discuss the AC compressor’s function in a nutshell. But the shop she had the car towed to determined the battery and alternator are good. An A/C delete/bypass pulley for your application would be a way to go, but it will involve pulling the compressor. It also syncs with the car’s defroster to prevent window fogging. There is a big belt wrapped around all the accessories on the engine and driven BY the engine. I would say that's your problem. Tools to Keep in Mind. If you have an issue with your vehicle someone here can probably help you. If your car is not used often and/or is stored for much of its life, simply start the car and run your air conditioning (with the compressor engaged) for approximately 30 seconds. Start it and set the AC to high. Great thanks for the info. 1. If the compressor and its clutch lock up solid, that belt won’t move when that little starter motor tries to turn the engine to start it. When the comp… I did a quick look on Rock Auto and it shows that you can buy a belt for your car that excludes the AC. There is a clutch at the end of the compressor. Curious to understand why a failed a/c compressor that locked up prevents a car from starting? The AC compressor is the most integral part of the air conditioning system and is responsible for pressurizing the refrigerant and distributing it. George, yes, you are correct. If it's the compressor making the noise and not the pulley/clutch, that should work. Sometimes, the removal of the cooling substance becomes necessary when repairing the AC system. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. This can also be tied to a bad capacitor since Start Run capacitors are used to start the condensing fan motor. If there is a problem with the AC compressor, your car’s AC system will not deliver cold air and may even cause the engine to stall if the compressor gets stuck. Tightening the connection or replacing the faulty wire should correct the compressor seize. If it starts, then the compressor clutch and/or electrical circuit is the most likely cause. A condenser fan motor that is locked up will prevent the compressor from starting. Check whether your car’s AC compressor is engaging or not. At first, you need to do is turning on the car. Then, my AC suddenly started shooting out humid air. The AC pressure switch is the part responsible for monitoring the pressure. Automotive air conditioning compressors require frequent maintenance. When the AC is on, the compressor clutch activates, wherein the drive belt on the engine now turns the compressor which in turn is compressing refrigerant so you can be nice and cold. Water pumps, alternators and power steering are nice things to have. Basically, … Some of the causes for an automotive air conditioner's compressor locking up are improper lubrication, low coolant levels, and low-quality or incorrect types of refrigerant. The A/C compressor being faulty will not stop the car from starting. I have a 95 Mercury sable 3.0L. That part could clog up, but lock-up wouldn’t normally apply to the condenser. Higher Temperatures Than Normal In The Cabin. If the compressor locked up, it could prevent the engine from rotating and therefore it wouldn’t start. Electrical problems. You will need a set of AC pressure gauges to check the following. She thought it was a bad battery. Also have you tried to spin the pulley by hand with the belt off? But the a/c compressor that was known to be failing totally locked up and once it did the car wouldn’t start even with a jump start. Also have you tried to spin the pulley by hand with the belt off? Other related signs are the compressor requiring longer rest periods between cycles and the compressor being much slower in reaching peak operation. Doing this every couple weeks or so keeps the compressor shaft-seal lubricated, which can prevent most shaft seal failures. If it DID start, it would squeal like a 500 lb hog and smoke like a tire fire!