1988 2.3 ac clutch stays engaged

[Goteem_591]

hello everyone, this is my first post on the forums that i have fallen back on countless times over the years, however i have a question that seem to not have been asked before.

i have an 88 ranger 2.3 with factory ac which has been converted over to r134A. my problem here is that my ac compressor clutch stays engaged 100% of the time when the "ac" button is pressed, and disengages when the button is off. i do know that 89+ rangers and bronco 2s have a clutch cycle relay, however my wiring does not have this; only a wot cut off relay.

my system does have a pressure switch, which is for 134A, and a "hot climate" orifice tube (since i live in Texas). my question is what is causing the constant engagement of my compressor clutch? is it the lack of the cycle relay, a pressure issue causing the pressure switch to stay activated, or is it the orifice tube?

is it possible to make a relay harness to let the compressor cycle?

im not 100% sure what defines a hot climate orifice tube, however i will say that the ac throws ice at me the whole time its engaged.

any insight would be very helpful, especially from a pre 89' owner who may have had this issue before.

 

[franklin2]

The clutch cycles to control cooling. The low pressure switch is what cycles the clutch. When the refrigerant pressure is low, either from lack of refrigerant, or from excessive cooling, it will turn the clutch off.

If it's really hot outside, it will not cycle off because the refrigerant pressure will be high, lots of warm air flowing through the evaporator coil in the dash. On a cooler day, the system will have more of a handle on things and when the pressure gets low enough, it will cycle the clutch. As it sits there the pressure will slowly rise and it will cycle the clutch back on.

If the low pressure switch is not set right and it's cooling too much, your evaporator coil will turn into a huge block of ice. You will know this because if you go somewhere and turn the truck off, when you come back out there will be a huge water puddle under the truck. If there is just a small puddle that is normal.

There is an adjustment for most low pressure switches. Unplug the wiring connector, there will be a small screw in between the two terminals. You can turn the screw to adjust the pressure to when it switches the compressor on and off. Go one way too far, and you will get the block of ice. Go the other way too far and the clutch will cycle and you are sitting in the truck sweating.

 

[Goteem_591]

The clutch cycles to control cooling. The low pressure switch is what cycles the clutch. When the refrigerant pressure is low, either from lack of refrigerant, or from excessive cooling, it will turn the clutch off.

If it's really hot outside, it will not cycle off because the refrigerant pressure will be high, lots of warm air flowing through the evaporator coil in the dash. On a cooler day, the system will have more of a handle on things and when the pressure gets low enough, it will cycle the clutch. As it sits there the pressure will slowly rise and it will cycle the clutch back on.

If the low pressure switch is not set right and it's cooling too much, your evaporator coil will turn into a huge block of ice. You will know this because if you go somewhere and turn the truck off, when you come back out there will be a huge water puddle under the truck. If there is just a small puddle that is normal.

There is an adjustment for most low pressure switches. Unplug the wiring connector, there will be a small screw in between the two terminals. You can turn the screw to adjust the pressure to when it switches the compressor on and off. Go one way too far, and you will get the block of ice. Go the other way too far and the clutch will cycle and you are sitting in the truck sweating.

wow man you are right on the money. I must have completely missed the set screw when I put in the new pressure switch. Many thanks to you