2003 ce Ac clutch bad?

[beltzer047]

The clutch isn't kicking in on the car. The relay is working and it appears the signal is making it that far. I even tried jumping the clutch off the battery and it didn't kick in. So do I just need to change the clutch or the whole compressor? Thoughts on anything else I might make sure and check? I'd surely appriciate any help ya'll could give.

[Bomix]

I'm curious as to how you were able to jump the clutch off the battery.
I have 2005 corolla S I just replaced the compressor, but the compressor is still not kicking on.
I too have made sure the relay M/G relay is good, and it is.. I also have a 03 S so I swapped relays just to double check.

Can you provide a quick guide on how you jumped from the battery?

[SXFCorolla]

How do you jump the clutch with the car battery? something isn't right here, and it sounds that you are overlooking the simplicity of the problem.

If the clutch simply isn't kicking on when all else seems to be fine, it is probably low on freon charge; ac compressor has what is called a "AC Pressure Switch" or "AC cycle switch" - this is pretty much a sensor - if the AC system is low on freon and there isn't enough pressure the clutch will not engage.

I would check this first before moving on to complete unit replacement - Go to your local O'Reilly Auto Parts and buy a small can of R134 Freon (and a charge hose if you don't have one) and charge the system - while the car is running if this is the problem you will hear your AC compressor engage (*more than one 12oz can may be required, depending on how low you are).

Hope this helps.

[beltzer047]

The freon pressure is good, the relay is working, the pressure switch is working. I have checked and double checked all these things.

The clutch is a simple matter. It has a hot and a ground. When the hot wire is activated, it kicks in the electro magnet and engages the clutch. The signal is getting there, I've checked. Just to make sure, i unplugged the clutch and ran a ground into the plug on the ground side and a hot wire from the hot side to the positive batttery terminal. This should cause the clutch to kick and turn when the car is running. It did not, hence I think the clutch is bad.

[SXFCorolla]

Well if you have check all these things and they checked out, the I guess it narrows down to the actual clutch assembly.

If you have the money buy an original equipment compressor and/or clutch - aftermarket units don't seem all to reliable.