Compressor clutch engages/disengages at will

[frozenassets]

The compressor in my 95 ranger (2.3 engine) keeps kicking in momentarily and out again, whether the dash control is set to A/C or not. Any ideas on how to fix this? The problem has been going on for months and I only recently figures out what the "cliking noise" from under the hood was.

 

[countryboy]

it is 100% normal ur a/c system is circulating itself that is how it keeps ur freon good so when you do decide to use it it will still work

 

[frozenassets]

I understad the need for he A/C to run every once in a while, but should it be every few minutes?

 

[Whiskey990]

I am going to revive this thread, dun dun dunnnn!

It's nice to hear that the clutch cycling is normal, but:

On my 2000 Ford Ranger XL...

-It does so even if it's not on A/C or defrost
-It kicks on and off every 15-30seconds

That has to be a little funky right?

All help is appreciated!

 

[gw33gp]

Later Rangers have the A/C active on all setting except; off, dash level vent (only) and floor (only). I know my 89 Ranger was different because the A/C could be turned on or off in all positions.

I have been told the A/C will cycle on briefly after starting but I have never notice mine doing that.

 

[Whiskey990]

Ah cool gw33gp! Thank-you for that input. Those are indeed the modes that I know the clutch does not engage. I wonder why they chose to have it on for floor and dash...

In any case...I did look under the hood. While it is in any mode with the compressor running..you can physically see it turning on and off every 10 seconds or so. It might get up to every minute but it still cycles very frequently.

Hey, at least the A/C works!

 

[gw33gp]

A/C cycling on and off a lot is a symptom of the system being low on Freon. It will still blow cold air but not much on hot days. Have it checked out.

 

[DANGER4.0]

sorry, but i was searching for info on this and found it.


this morning i turned my new to me 97 ranger on and the compressor was switching on and off every 10 seconds or so when i put the heat on to dash and floor setting, and it was loud and i could hear it from way behind the truck, so this is normal? it cycles the freon to keep it fresh-ish?

 

[bcost882]

yea no matter what you put the controls on if it is not on the off it will spin the compressor every so often

 

[thmil]

Clutch quit working

Hi, Nice informative thread.
When I got my new to me 1996 3.0 I forgot to check the A/C before buying. Later I found out when I tried it and blew hot. The clutch was cyling fine though for another 3 weeks until it quit all together. I did not do too much research in the forum, but I saw something about hot jumping the clutch to see if it's still good. I took off the plug to look at the connection. It looks ok but there was something inside the plug on the clutch that looked like it may have shorted out (some carbon? it was hard to see inside).

So how to trouble shoot? How to jump what color whires to where.

Thank's a lot THim