Intermittent A/C compressor clutch not working properly?

Hi, since I asked the question, here is what I have done and think I know. I went ahead and replaced the relay in the fuse box, the one it it looked like one the 5 contacts had broken off, that did not make any difference in what was happening. I thought the same thing about low on Freon, I got some getting ready to try to recharge it myself, watched more videos on YouTube and saw the gauge that came with the Freon can said I had too much, and one video said do not use stuff that is supposed to seal leaks. So, I did not recharge the freon. I did get the Freon to an acceptable amount according to the Freon gauge that came with the can and that did not seem to help either. I went ahead and got a new low-pressure switch. I do believe that is the only thing that changed anything I was seeing, still hot air coming out but now the compressor clutch was never engaging, and the engine was not revving up (I mean engine idle speed never goes higher, like someone is in the car giving it a little gas). Hope that helps. I'm now at a loss as to what to do next. I was going to view the videos you sent me and then try switching the old relay and the old low-pressure switch to see if either of those caused the compressor clutch to stop engaging and the engine to stop revving up on its own. I plan on trying to return the can of r-134a I had gotten to recharge the system, but that has the only gauge I have the helps me know the level of Freon. I look forward to your next reply and thanks for helping!

Yes sir, it was in the red. That was with the engine off, with engine on it would go from high to low, back, and forth. It currently stays in the mid green area at all times engine off or on. The engine RPM would increase, and compressor clutch would spin and then decrease and stop spinning, it would repeat that every few seconds. After getting the gauge in the green the compressor clutch never spins. I replaced the relay and the low-pressure switch, and checked the two ten-amp fuses, all of that seemed to be in good shape. Kept the old parts, just in case. I also have a 1990 Silverado and just thought maybe I could pull parts off of it as well if I need to, not worried about the A/C on that truck. I think those parts should be interchangeable.

I do believe it was overcharged and I let freon out until the gauge I had said it was in the green, which I think it was between 40 and 50 PSI on the gauge and outside temperature would have been mid to upper 90s. I just tried to check again to give you a little better and more accurate info, but I got no pressure reading off that gauge at all, engine on or off, and nothing activating the compressor. I now have something more pressing going on with my daily driver, and that has to be resolved before I can put much more effort into this A/C problem. I was going to put all the old parts back on and see if that changes anything, but all my tools are in my daily driver and currently not with me. The no pressure at all has me puzzled and I at least have to get freon with no leak stuff just to make sure I don't do more damage until I know it has a leak. That is where I am at the moment.

No sir, I have not added anything. What do I need to do next? Add Pag oil and the r-134a with leak sealer and go from there? It is an 18oz can. Can I ask how it was overcharged if it has a leak?

Okay, should I add the R-134a with leak stop and see what happens or find R-134a without leak stop? The only thing I opened was when I let Freon out to get it from red down to green on the gauge and when I changed the low pressure switch, I heard a little come out.

Hi, I am back at it today, I think from what I have learned so far I am just going to add a small can of just R-134a and go from there. Will keep you up to date on how it goes after that.

Hi again, I felt cold air! Now I have to wait and see if it does have a leak or not before trying to return the freon that had leak stop stuff in it too and go from there. I did not need a new relay and will check and see if I needed a low pressure switch, if not I will try to return both of those as well. Will keep you up to date as I go if you want and thanks for all your help. Hopefully I know enough to go from here.

Ok, maybe 1 more question, it got to about 30psi, in my mind that is good enough, but should I go further and just never go over 50psi?

Thanks, I keep forgetting the outside temps affect the psi readings. It was roughly 90 degrees when I added the 12oz can, psi went from 0 to barely above 30. Roughly my temperature was 90. I did go back shortly after doing that and the the psi had dropped a little and the clutch wasn't staying on the whole time. I then tried to make sure I finished off the entire can, it never went much past 30 psi so I figured that was all the can was going to do. What psi should I aim for when it is 90 degrees? I basically am stuck between 80 to 100 degrees for a good while. I foresee me asking if there is a leak, should I let it all out and then use the whole can with "leak sealer" or just use part of that can once I am certain it has a leak some where? Thanks again

Hi, I'm at a loss as to what to do again. I waited for the temperature to get to 90 and was going to get the PSI up to 45 or 50 like you recommended. I checked with engine off and it was well over 50 PSI, turned engine and A/C on and still well above 50. What am I doing wrong? I expected 30 PSI or less. I do have to jump start the compressor clutch to make sure it is constantly moving when I try to add freon. I never felt any cold air coming out as well.

Yes sir, it was just 30 PSI and then you told me it needed to be 45-50 on a 90-degree day, but when I tried to add more to get it to at least 45 it was saying it had somehow gotten well over 50, even with engine on and A/C running. Low pressure is the only pressure I can currently test.