Replacing AC clutch on compressor

techedbob1 · Post by **techedbob1** » 25 May 2012, 14:19

I have a general question. Is it hard to replace the ac clutch plate on the compressor.
1995 960 wagon.

Post by **jimmy57** » 25 May 2012, 16:14

Not on that car. Drop the splash pan under engine.
Remove bolt in center and try first with two blade screw drivers and it may pry off easily. DO NOT PRY HARD!!
If it does not slip off easily then you will need a puller.

Why are you changing it?

techedbob1 · Post by **techedbob1** » 28 May 2012, 14:59

The air conditioner was working then it wasn't. It had plenty of freon however it would not get cold. I took the car to my tech and he said that the clutch on the compressor was starting to freeze up. If I didn't fix it it would throw the belt and I would break down. Since it is my wife's car I did not want her to break down. The quickest solution would be to reroute the belt around the compressor. That is what I did.

Post by **jimmy57** » 28 May 2012, 16:09

That is vague/ambiguous info from the tech.
Very common issue is the clutch wears and the gap between the drive and driven plates increases. After the a/c works for a bit and the compressor gets warm the electromagnet winding gets weakened(normal) and then it doe not have the strength to pull the driven plate against the drive plate and it does not cool. IF the clutch is burnt then it nneds a compressor and whatever may have failed the compressor investigated. If it works fine and then after a bit quits cooling with no compressor engagement and cools again after the engine cools down then it needs the compressor drive plate distance adjusted or the compressor clutch replaced. Some shops do not adjust the clutch gap, they just replace the compressor. The clutch is within a few dollars of a whole compressor with new clutch fitted usually.

techedbob1 · Post by **techedbob1** » 28 May 2012, 18:59

If the cost of the clutch is just a few dollars less than a whole compressor what else would I need to replace?

Post by **jimmy57** » 28 May 2012, 22:57

You would have to check prices. I get compressors from an a/c service parts supply and the last clutch I priced was 193 and the whole compressor new was 213. You have to drain refrigerant and remove compressor to replace clutch so you do more work to do clutch than to just take old comp off and put new one on.
The accumulator should be replaced whenever the system will be open for more than a minute.
The old compressor should be drained of oil by holding it up with hose connections down and catching it in something and then measuring it. DO the same with new compressor into a clean container. Put the amount you found in old back in the new plus 2-3 ounces, The compressor should be filled with the amount of oil (7 ounces) a dry system will need. You only need only add the amount the accumulator will hold and the amount found in old compressor.

I am still thinking that you may only need to take out the front plate center bolt and gently pry the plate off and remove a shim washer that will be on end of shaft or up in the plate hub. Usually there are two and you leave out the thick one or both. Then put plate and bolt back on. This is an in-car repair on 960.