A/c Compressor

redcorvetteman3 · April 22, 2009

Ok is the A/C Compressor suppose to cycle on and off?? It was about 50 outside and it was going on and off. It is suppose to get 80 here on Friday and I will look again but in my world of residential A/C units they are not suppose to cycle on and off like that. 2min on 1 min off. HELP!

Mike

mfennema · April 22, 2009

What do you have the settings in your truck set to? What temperatures? What function (i.e. defrost, blowing on your feet) More info is needed.

Zembonez · April 22, 2009

Depending on what the outside air temperature is and how you have the system set, it can cycle on and off quite rapidly. It should take longer to cycle once the temperature is in the 80s - 90s.

txab · April 22, 2009

Ok is the A/C Compressor suppose to cycle on and off?? It was about 50 outside and it was going on and off. It is suppose to get 80 here on Friday and I will look again but in my world of residential A/C units they are not suppose to cycle on and off like that. 2min on 1 min off. HELP!

Mike

At 50 it's not going to stay on long. Some auto AC compressors don't cycle. They stay engaged, but have a valve inside them that allows them vary how much pumping action occurs

mr_bots · April 22, 2009

Cycling is normal, there should be a pressure switch that controls it. As long as the air stays cold and it does it's job, I wouldn't worry about it.

mipsco1 · April 22, 2009

do you have defrost on. The ac will cycle on and off when defrost is on so the system stays lube in the winter.

bill190 · April 23, 2009

There is usually a switch of some type on the "evaporator" which is the cold coils air blows through on the inside of the vehicle. This switch will shut off the compressor just before the coils reach freezing.

You don't want the coils inside the car to reach freezing or they will "freeze up" with ice and air will no longer blow through them! So the idea is to keep them as cold as possible but not quite freezing. This is done by the compressor cycling on/off.

So on cooler days, there will be more on/off cycling of the compressor (reaches freezing quicker) and less so on warm/hot days.

redcorvetteman3 · April 23, 2009

Auto I had it around 75. I would think the on and off would be hard on the clutch system. I under stand the freezing of the Evap coil. but There are better ways to prevent that IMO. I just wanted to make sure it was suppose to cycle on and off. Thanks Guys

Mike

DBVille · April 23, 2009

The clutch will handle it. They do fail, but not that often. Residential commpressors burn out the motor if they cycle. Its electric, and over heats. I really doubt that is a concern on a truck. What you want to watch is the temp of the air coming out in the cabin. If it stays more/less constant, and the cabin temp is good, it should be fine.