A/C light not coming on, clutch not engaging.

[Long Roof]

I'm helping my buddy work on his $700 1994 Ranger. Well the A/C wasn't working, decided to recharge it. I noticed the clutch wasn't engaging. Then noticed the little A/C light on the controls wasn't coming on. The blower motor works and all that just no A/C power. Checked all the fuses and stuff. Bad controls? What do you guys think?

 

[RobbieD]

The system won't really "charge" without the compressor operating. Among the several things that could be wrong with it, is not enough referigerant in the system, to allow the pressure switch to close.

 

[Long Roof]

The system won't really "charge" without the compressor operating. Among the several things that could be wrong with it, is not enough referigerant in the system, to allow the pressure switch to close.

Yeah, we noticed the compressor wasn't working while we were trying to recharge it. But now we're trying to figure out the electrical issue or whatever it might be.

 

[Earl43P]

If the refrigerant is low, you can jumper the two wires in the low pressure switch to make the compressor suck in the refrigerant. If it's that low, I'd add a can with the oil in it FIRST.

The LP switch should be right on/by the accumulator/filter/dryer.

 

[MAKG]

If the light isn't going on, it's a bad control. That light says absolutely nothing about the compressor. If it did, people would be constantly complaining about how it isn't on all the time.