This is an '01 with manual a/c. A/C stopped working yesterday. When I hit the on/off button the clutch does not engage, the fans do not go on and the RPMs do not increase. If I slide the temp control all the way over to the left the recirc light does not come on. Checked the a/c 10A fuse and it's OK. Would all of these symptoms be caused by a failed compressor or is there something else electrical that could be the cause?

Thanks in advance!

 

It might be something electrical, I had this problem begining of summer when I turned the A/C on... nothing no jump on RPM's, no fans, nothing... I just went and wiggled the wires coming to the A/C (just behind the rad.) then tried again and it was working again.!! Knowing that on my next oil change I went under the car, cleaned the connection and made sure it was secured, no problems since.

Hope yours is as simple as mine

 

If the compressor clutch was bad, the radiator fans would still run. What Parthur referred to could have been for the sensor that checks the pressure of the refrigerant in the a/c compressor. A low pressure reading to the ECU will keep the a/c from turning on.

 

Thanks, guys. I checked the harnesses behind the radiator, which connect to the fans, and all seemed OK. I'll be checking the refrigerant level today to see if anything may be wrong.....not certain if I'll get a proper reading if the compressor doesn't kick in. I'll also release a small amount to see how fast is comes out. The fact that nothing electrical happens when I push the button leads me to think it's electrical and not the compressor.

 

Problem identified...........low on refrigerant. When I put on the pressure gauge there was no reading and when I depressed the relief valve nothing came out. Had some refrigerant in the garage, brought it up to minimum pressure and the compressor and fans kicked on. Now the question becomes where is the leak? That's for my mechanic to figure out.

 

Look for an oily residue. Most likely around the compressor.

 

Low refrigerant was going to be my response, this happened with a Saab that I once owned. check the lines right at the compressor there may be some pinhole breaks there.

 

Check evaporative condenser fittings...those have a tendency to leak.