A/C compressor clutch

lilbad1

My daughter has a 2003 Saturn Vue 2.2 and it seems that the clutch if froze up... I have checked Freon level with a gauge that I use to top of Freon and seems ok... the vehicle has 170,000 thousand miles... are these compressors prone to failure and is there a "Quick Fix" without replacing compressor, orphis tube and dryer? Thank you... any information will help.

Mr_Shiftright

You mean the clutch will not engage?

At 170,000, anything on that car is prone to failure...that's a lot of miles.

Your first step is figuring out why your clutch wont' engage---get a test light and see if the clutch is getting a command signal. If not, give it 12V and see what happens. If it does get 12V, and won't engage, it's probably no good.

On some cars, the clutch is replaceable separately and on other cars it isn't--you'd have to replace the entire compressor and then have the AC serviced.

lilbad1

Yes.. I believe it is froze up... when you try to turn on the A/C... the clutch smokes and I think I saw a "spark or two" and it puts the engine under a hell-of-a- load....

Mr_Shiftright

Sounds like the compressor is bad