The most common cause of a blown clutch fuse is a short to ground in the compressor clutch coil. In newer vehicles where the AC is controlled by the heater control head or the PCM, the wiring is quite different. When turned on, power flows through the switch and then to a low and high pressure switch before flowing to the compressor clutch coil. In older non-computerized vehicles power flows from a fuse to the AC switch. How does an AC compressor clutch engage?Ĭarmakers use several different wiring methods to provide power to the clutch coil. When the clutch coil receives power and generates a magnetic field, it pulls a portion of the clutch plate against the clutch body/pulley, causing it to rotate the compressor shaft. The clutch plate connects to the AC compressor shaft and drives the compressor when it mates against the clutch body.When the driver requests AC, the system provides power to the clutch coil, thereby generating a magnetic field, which turn the pulley into a strong magnet. The compressor clutch coil is simply a large coil of copper wire.The clutch body/pulley is driven by the drive belt any time the engine is running.How does an AC compressor clutch work?Ĭompressor clutches are sometimes referred to as a magnetic clutch because they operate with an electro-magnet. But the pulley will not rotate the AC compressor shaft unless the compressor clutch has engaged. The AC compressor drive belt rotates the compressor pulley at all times when the engine is running. Some engines use a dedicated drive belt to drive the AC compressor, while others use a drive belt that drives multiple components. A slipping AC compressor clutch is a sign of severe wear, shorted clutch coil or an incorrect air gap (explained later). Unlike a car’s transmission clutch, an AC compressor clutch is either transmitting full drive power to the AC compressor or not-it’s not supposed to provide partial power. Repair Topics > Air Conditioning Symptoms and Repair > Compressor > Car AC compressor clutch - How it works Car AC compressor clutch - How it works Car AC compressor clutchĪ car AC compressor clutch is used to connect and disconnect drive power to the car’s AC compressor shaft.
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