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1996 Toyota Tacoma Compressor won't engage

Tiny
WILLSPENCE
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 98,000 MILES
- A/C switch illuminates
- fuse OK
- no 12v @ lead to compressor clutch
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010 AT 5:18 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi willspence,

The A/C magnetic clutch receives its power from the A/C Amplifier ( right side of Instrument Panel).

If the A/C switch is turning on, then you do not have a power supply issue and the most likely fault would be the amplifier or a broken connection. At the mplifier, check the Black/Yellow ( Pin # 9 ) for battery voltage. If voltage is available, the continuity between the amplifier and A/C compressor clutch is broken.

Otherwise you could have a faulty amplifier.
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Friday, June 4th, 2010 AT 8:33 AM
Tiny
WILLSPENCE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks- no volts@ black/yellow (I have shematic), so I'll replace amp- $90, so I hope it works!
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Friday, June 4th, 2010 AT 4:16 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Keeping my fingers crossed. :)

Good luck and have a nice day.

Maybe you can try looking at the printed circuit board of the amplifier to see if you can find any abnormalities. Look out for corrosion, indicating bad capacitors( leaking) or cracked solders. Some circuit boards can be repaired by replacing some capacitors and/or resoldering. That would be a cheaper lternative.
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Saturday, June 5th, 2010 AT 12:56 AM
Tiny
WILLSPENCE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Board looks OK- no burned areas or visible cold solder joints, and no burned smell anywhere, so double fingers crossed.
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Saturday, June 5th, 2010 AT 3:28 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
I found some additional info on testing the amplifier and have emailed it to you.

Hope it is useful and I am not too late.
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Sunday, June 6th, 2010 AT 3:37 AM
Tiny
WILLSPENCE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks so much for your help!

The new A/C amplifier arrived... Still no go. : (

all the tests as described on the PDF you sent me test good, but it's a little confusing- first it says disconnect the battery ground, but some of the tests are looking for battery voltage, and the footnotes say to have the ignition on. So I tested those with batt. Gnd. Connected. (I did the continuity and resistance tests with gnd. Disconnected)

What next?
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Friday, June 11th, 2010 AT 6:02 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
The battery negative terminal is disconnected only when you need to remove the amplifier. When doing test, the terminal should be reconnected.

If all the test are confirmed to be correct, then it seems the PCM would be the cause. The PCM connections are for working the A/C amplifier as well.
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Friday, June 18th, 2010 AT 8:18 AM

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