Replacing A/C Clutch...A few questions

**50Dro** · 06-23-2011, 03:38 PM

I think my A/C clutch is dying on me on my 87 GT. It sometimes doesn't engage when I turn the A/C on or it will disengage after some driving time. If I tap on the pulley it will click in and blow cold air. The system holds a charge so it's not that.

A few questions:

Advance carries a new one for $59.99 and a re-man for $74.29 offered from the same manufacturer. Is there any benefit in going with the re-man (OEM parts vs. Asian etc)? The price is throwing me off...
What does it take to replace it? Will I need a puller or just an impact gun to remove the nut and it will slip off?
Is there anything else I should check before replacing it?

Thanks!

**50Dro** · 07-06-2011, 11:25 PM

bump!

**PaxtonShelby** · 07-06-2011, 11:41 PM

Are you sure you have enough pressure in the system? Could be the low-pressure switch disengaging the clutch - it usually happens when you rev up the motor or during acceleration, then it will re-engage when you come back down to idle.

If you add refrigerant, be sure that you put the can into a bucket of really hot water to raise the temp to help it release into the system. Also, keep the top of the can pointing UP while adding it - otherwise it will go in as a liquid and not a gas - and that's bad news for the system.

**50Dro** · 07-06-2011, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by PaxtonShelby

Are you sure you have enough pressure in the system? Could be the low-pressure switch disengaging the clutch - it usually happens when you rev up the motor or during acceleration, then it will re-engage when you come back down to idle.

If you add refrigerant, be sure that you put the can into a bucket of really hot water to raise the temp to help it release into the system. Also, keep the top of the can pointing UP while adding it - otherwise it will go in as a liquid and not a gas - and that's bad news for the system.

Thanks for the input! Pretty sure the pressure is OK. I had a mechanic that I trust at the Ford dealer my dad works at check it so it wasn't done with a can. It didn't need much and hasn't been touched since the late 90's so I'm fairly confident there's not a leak in the system. The clutch engagement isn't affected by RPM at all. It is either engaged or not and will re-engage if you tap the front of the clutch pulley while it's running.

I wonder if the low pressure switch is bad? Maybe I can check for 12V when it's not engaged (and it should be)? Or it's just the solenoid in the clutch that's bad?

**mustang50lx** · 07-07-2011, 12:22 AM

If you pull the front plate off there will be spacers or little washers in there. It is an 8 mm bolt that holds the plate on I think. Just take one washer out. That will usually correct that problem.

**50Dro** · 07-07-2011, 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by mustang50lx

If you pull the front plate off there will be spacers or little washers in there. It is an 8 mm bolt that holds the plate on I think. Just take one washer out. That will usually correct that problem.

Cool! What do the spacers do to cause this? (just curious)

**32valve** · 07-07-2011, 12:35 AM

Reduce air gap. Less magnitism to engauge clutch

**PaxtonShelby** · 07-07-2011, 12:20 AM

Sorry bud, but the info I gave is about ALL I know about A/C!!

My buddy's Dad helped me out with my Cobra a month or so ago and that's everything I learned. But what you said seems to make sense. Hopefully someone here can chime in and give you some more input. Good luck!!

**50Dro** · 07-07-2011, 12:23 AM

That's cool! I appreciate it!

**50Dro** · 07-07-2011, 12:44 AM

OK...I'll have to give that a try. Just went down and looked at it. It looks to be larger than an 8mm bolt in the center (maybe 10-12mm?) then the outer plate has several rivets towards the outside of it. Just so I'm sure I'm doing the right thing...I'm supposed to be removing the center bolt right? If so, will I need to remove the belt to do this? Sorry if that's a dumb question but I want to make sure we're talking about the same vintage A/C compressor.

Thanks a bunch guys! I love free solutions! :)

**mustang50lx** · 07-07-2011, 12:56 AM

Just the center bolt. You don't have to remove the belt. You may have to pry it a little. Be careful not to bend it. The rivets are part of the plate you will remove.

**50Dro** · 07-07-2011, 01:02 AM

Ok...good stuff! Thanks!

**50Dro** · 07-19-2011, 10:10 PM

Well...I finally got a few minutes to give this a try tonight. I removed the plate and cleaned the hell out of it. There was a good bit of gunk in there! I removed the spacer from under the plate and when I went to reassemble it there was a metal on metal sound that couldn't be good. I went ahead and put it together as it was minus all the dirt. I'm wondering if removing the dirt will allow it to work properly now or not? I'm gonna drive it to work a few times this week and the weather will definitely warrant using the A/C so we'll see what happens. I'll let you know!