air conditoner
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6
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air conditoner
Can someone please tell me if it's normal for the ac compressor to run even if the heat is on and the ac is OFF. I have a 1995 LT1 base coupe . I have gone through 3 ac clutches. They keep burning out the clutch and damaging the bearing.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Yes it turns by hand and when it was first installed it blew nice and cold so it seems like the compressor is okay. When this one burnt out I did not have it on , it was on heat. The clutch plate material melted and now the clutch plate won't engage, but you can still turn the compressor by hand. I'm wondering if the compressor clutch engaged some how and stayed on, if that would cause it to over heat and burn out. Do you know if the clutch cycles on and off and if it doesn't would it burn out being on all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
The compressor runs in all modes except vent and heat mode (lower vent). In all other modes the compressor runs and you can run the temperature up to max but that only controls the blend door and the compressor does not care. The cycling switch should turn the compressor on and off when in any of the A/C modes. A cycling switch that is bad or another problem which would keep the clutch engaged should not hurt the clutch.
If a compressor is locking up, that would burn up a clutch but the problem should be kind of obvious. Also if the shims and clearance are not set properly, that might affect the life of the clutch.
Just for the heck of it, I would measure the voltage to the clutch when it is engaged. It should be between 12 and 14.5 volts.
If a compressor is locking up, that would burn up a clutch but the problem should be kind of obvious. Also if the shims and clearance are not set properly, that might affect the life of the clutch.
Just for the heck of it, I would measure the voltage to the clutch when it is engaged. It should be between 12 and 14.5 volts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 381
From: Lunenburg MA
Yes it turns by hand and when it was first installed it blew nice and cold so it seems like the compressor is okay. When this one burnt out I did not have it on , it was on heat. The clutch plate material melted and now the clutch plate won't engage, but you can still turn the compressor by hand. I'm wondering if the compressor clutch engaged some how and stayed on, if that would cause it to over heat and burn out. Do you know if the clutch cycles on and off and if it doesn't would it burn out being on all the time.
This is based on my experience, I could be way off though.
