Symptoms of a Faulty or Faulty AC Clutch Cycle Switch
If your air conditioner isn't blowing as cold as it normally would, or isn't working at all, you may need to replace the AC clutch enable switch.
The AC clutch enable switch is a very important component of the AC system of a modern car. It is installed on the low pressure side of the air conditioning system and is designed to detect the flow of refrigerant in the system by measuring the pressure. When the pressure is detected to have dropped below a certain threshold, the switch will activate, allowing pressure from the high pressure side of the AC system to flow to the low side and equalize the pressure. When the pressure returns to normal, the cycle switch will close. The pressure in an AC system fluctuates depending on several factors such as ambient temperature, age, and the amount of refrigerant in the system. This switch is designed to keep the pressure at a constant level so that the air conditioner can work properly.
Because this switch is constantly being turned on and off, the AC system drives its electrical contacts, which exposes the switch to a lot of wear. Over time, the contacts wear out and the switch needs to be replaced for AC to work. When a clutch switch has failed, it usually causes a few simple symptoms to look out for.
1. Lack of cooling
If you start noticing that the AC system isn't blowing as cold as it used to, this could be a sign that the switch has failed or is starting to fail. If the switch is not working properly, the AC system will not be properly sealed and will not work as efficiently in cooling the air. If you notice that your air conditioner is no longer blowing as cold air as it used to, you might want to consider looking at the switch.
2. No cooling
In more serious cases, where the switch has completely failed, your AC system will completely stop blowing cold air. Without a cycle switch to activate the compressor clutch, the AC system will not be pressurized properly and as a result the system will not be able to produce cold air.
If you start noticing that the AC system is no longer working as it used to and you suspect the problem is with the clutch engagement switch, consider checking the switch and replacing it if necessary. It is also important to know that when replacing the clutch switch, the A/C system will need to be charged with the correct amount of oil and refrigerant for the A/C system. However, this is something that any professional technician like AvtoTachki should be able to take care of you quickly and accurately.
