A/C compressor in my car turning on and off too much

[deftron]

My A/C cycles like every 2 seconds whilie running...
making the annoying engage click that I can hear while stopped
and also making the idle jump.

I figured the A/C compressor clutch needs to be replaced
but the only thin I found on the net was
this
that said it's a sign of low refrigerant


Any mechanics or car whizzes here ?

 

[LandRover]

Very likely that it's low on refrigerant. Usually when the clutch is dying, it has a hard time engaging at all.

 

[IGBT]

Very likely that it's low on refrigerant. Usually when the clutch is dying, it has a hard time engaging at all.

..most likely the problem..there's a low pres.switch that detects low system pres.and will shut down the ac comp..or cycle it if the syst.pres is just enough to pick the switch.

 

[dud]

This is a common problem. You need to have your A/C system checked for leaks. You need refrigerant.

 

[Rastus]

Originally posted by: dud
This is a common problem. You need to have your A/C system checked for leaks. You need refrigerant.

QFT

It's called short cycling.

 

[deftron]

Originally posted by: Rastus

Originally posted by: dud
This is a common problem. You need to have your A/C system checked for leaks. You need refrigerant.

QFT

It's called short cycling.

Are those DIY recharge kits easy enough?
GUess they wouldn't fix a leak tho

What's the usual damage at a mechanic for this repair?

 

[deftron]

Anyone have an estimate?

 

[deftron]

Originally posted by: deftron
Anyone have an estimate?

 

I just saw a sign for $60 AC recharge at my local shop.

 

[thedarkwolf]

The DIY kits are real easy just make sure you get one with a gauge. If you can't figure it out with the diagrams and color coded gauge well you probably shouldn't be driving . If you have a big leak then yeah go get it fixed but if you just need to add a can every summer for $6 who cares.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

stop using your A/C while your sitting there looking at that clutch kick on and off its being starved of oil and is filling up your system with debris from the compressor. those DIY kits are junk. borrow a real set of gauges and head over to autoacforum.com

 

[DanTMWTMP]

omg my car does this a lot. Man, I never really thought it'd be something I had to be concerned with goddamn it, and I already did a recharge like 3 months ago WTF. And the cap and everything had to be replaced, and it's still doing it? ARG.

 

[TwoBills]

It could be a problem w/the thermal amplifier. I know the Nissan Frontiers and Xterras have this problem. TA is stuck in the fins of the evaporator. About a $30 part.

Recharge at a shop will cost in the neighborhood of $150
.
If it's blowing cold while it's cycling then I'd suspect the TA.