2000 Chevy S-10 A/C compressor won't kick on and off.

LANCEWEIR

MEMBER
2000 CHEVROLET S-10
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
12,700 MILES

I recently replaced my A/C compressor and filled it with 134a refidgerant but the compressor wouldn't cycle, so, I junped the low-pressure switch wih a paper clip and it worked fine--nice cold air.

The guage on my can of 134a read in the green zone and it's not quite into the blue area (25psi), what I'm wondering is is it just not enough pressure to trigger the switch to engage the clutch on the compressor (safety feature) or, is it the low pressure switch?

The normal pressure on this model for "charged" is anywhere from 25-45 psi so I'm thinking it just needs more refidgerant.

Lastly, 134a is expensive, if I have to change the low-pressure switch and I unscrew it from the canister will I lose all of the refidgerant?

1 Reply

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,758 POSTS

My feelings are that those kits your using should be outlawed. They are known in the business as "death kits". A/C repairs are not as easy as they try to make it sound. You need to use professional gauges with both high and low hooked up and even then you can't know when your system is full. The system calls for a very specific amount of refrigerant and the only way to measure it is to completely evacuate the system and charge it with the exact amount of refrigerant required from a vacuum. Running your system with that switch jumped out is the best way I know to burn out your compressor too.