1998 Ranger Compressor cycling rapidly

[xPDPx]

I added refrigerant about a month and a half ago and the A/C was working amazing! Now in the past couple of days when it has gotten in the high 90s i tried it and it doesnt kick out any cold air. my compressor keeps cycling every 2-7 seconds. i checked the refrigerant level and it is the same as it was when i filled it. so i want to know if it is my compressor or whats happening? Looked on alot of forums and tons of people saying compressors cycle when their isnt enough refrigerant but i dont wanna add more and mess up my AC. or is just my Relay or what? been trying to figure out how to do the manual bypass of the relay but i am scared to short circuit the wrong port. all the diagrams i have looked up werent very descriptive on what relay was what and my power box doesnt have a diagram on it like most cars do.

My Truck is a 1998 Ford Ranger XLT 5 Speed Manual.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[RonD]

Get a volt meter or 12volt test light and check the compressor voltage, see if voltage is cycling on and off, if it isn't but compressor is then Google: Ford AC air gap

There is a low pressure switch and a high pressure(cycling) switch on all AC systems.

When you turn on the AC switch, 12volts is sent thru these switches and then to the compressor, so if either switch OPENS then the 12volts will be cut off until it closes again.
Locate theses switches, they are on the AC lines of course.
With engine on and AC on test voltage at each wire on each switch, there are two wires on each switch, 12volts IN and 12volts OUT.

The switches are in series

12volts------switch----------switch---------compressor

So if it is a switch thats causing the problem the first switch in the wiring will have 12v on one wire full time, it won't be going off and on, check it's other wire, if it is going on and off then thats the switch that is opening and closing.

You can use a sewing pin to pierce a wire to test voltage.

AC 101:
Image here: http://image.cpsimg.com/sites/carparts-mc/assets/classroom/images/ac_layout.jpg

 

[Doofy]

Usually, you can jumper the low pressure switch pigtail and the compressor will stay running to aid in adding refrigerant. If the compressor stays on, probably needs a boost.

 

[gw33gp]

I had a similar problem with my 02 but it was intermittent. I replaced the high pressure cycling switch and the problem went away.