AC problems

[JgS]

Hello, My wife has an 03′ Corolla and lately the AC has been intermittently working. The blower and blender doors are working fine. The refrigerant level was about 25psi. Last night I pulled the belt off to test the bearing on the compressor. The bearing seamed fine. The only thing that struck me as odd is that the wheel on the compressor spun freely and I was under the impression that when the AC was on it engaged a clutch that would keep the compressor from spinning freely. So now I am leaning towards the clutch or relay as the problem. How would I narrow it down to just one. Thanks.

Topic

[EricTheCarGuy]

I do not recommend that the DIY do AC diagnosis and repair. It often requires special equipment and knowledge that’s just not available to them. I recommend you take it to a professional to be properly diagnosed. That said, the information in this article may help you gain a better understanding of the system and how it operates which might lead to a diagnosis for you.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-hvac-problems

[Bill]

When and how did you test the system pressure. Unless it’s on the LOW side 25 lbs is not enough

[JgS]

Thanks for the advice. I did test the pressure on the low end with the compressor on and the engine at operating temperature.

The AC did stop working for me last night. I heard a slight grinding noise coming from the compressor. So I guess it’s off to to find a shop that can work on it.

[EricTheCarGuy]

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[JgS]

Wanted to send an update. I took it to a shop a week ago. they said the compressor was fine but the relay was bad. Apparently it is common in Toyotas. They replaced the relay and everything is working great.

[EricTheCarGuy]

I’m very happy to hear things worked out for you so well. As I stated, it’s sometimes best to put it in the hands of an experienced professional. Thanks for the update and for using the ETCG forum.

[Author]

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