AC clutch not engaging
 

Hello. I have a 98 es300 and the AC is not working. This is a recent development, until now it has been blowing nice and cold. when I turn it on now nothing happens, the clutch does not engage amd im not sure why. From what I have seen a possible problem could be low freon, but i'm not sire that is it bcuz I would think the AC coldness would have diminshed over time instead of just goin away. I guess I would like to know if there is a way I can check to see if it IS lower before I have to take it to a shop.

Any thoughts on this? Also, when I turn the ac on the radiator fans do not come on either, but they work when they are needed otherwise.

You can buy an AC refiller kit (with a Gauge). Measure the pressure on the low-pressure line.

If a serious leak developed yes it would cause your issue. It could also be electrical. Low side should be 25-35, high should be 200 - 350.

Pull the low side cap marked with an L usually or blue sometimes and push the valve stem in gently to see if any freon comes out. It still may have freon but not enough to cause the compressor to engage.

Also check that your belt didn't break. I had that problem the other day on my truck.

Could be a fuse or relay...check if there is power and a good ground at the compressor connector

I think your problem is electrical

Thanks guys, from what I have seen about checking the freon levels with a gauge, it says to connect the gauges and turn the compressor on. would I still be able to get a reading if the compressor does not come on?

I could be wrong, but I think if you are low on freon, the compressor will engage, but then disengage when it reads the low pressure. If it is not a fuse or relay, I think your compressor clutch has failed.

I've had an issue with my 02 es300. Where the a/c LED was blinking and elsewhere on the forum people recommended to change the mag clutch relay. I did and it's back to normal. Dunno if that is also your problem but the relay was like 12.00 bucks. Good luck.

Please don't buy those off the shelf bottles of refrigerant - they are a quick way to kill what might be a functioning system...

You need to find out if there is any pressure in the system at all, and simply depressing the valve to see if anything comes out is not sufficient... Have a shop check pressures, most will do it for around $20... if pressures are ok, then we have an electrical issue...

thanks guys. Mitsuguy, before i read your post i quickly pressed both H and L valves and nothing came out. So, I fully depressed them both and nothing came out. Would that be sufficient to prove there is a leak?

As far as the relay, the only one i could find was the MAG/CLU relay under the hood. There is a relay exactly like the one for this one right next to it, so I swapped them out and the car started, yet still with not clutch/compressor kicking on.

The AC light on my dash does not blink, but I wonder if that is because the compressor is not coming on at all.

Mitsuguy, I think I may have to have a shop check the pressure for me.

I finally got this issue fixed after the long hot summer is almost over. It turns out there was a leak in the system and it was completely empty and that is why the compressor was not coming on. I ended up replacing the condenser and dryer as I figured that was the most likely failed component since it was working fine over the summer. Now it holds a charge and is good 2 go again.
thanks for the help.

Glad you figured it out. My aunts car had same issue. After replacing condenser and dryer it blows cold.

Yeah, i think I took a rock in the condenser somewhere over the winter.