A/C Clutch Slips...

Hi everyone, I'm having a problem with my '03 Cobra regarding the A/C. Basically the A/C turns on and stays on fine when the car is idling, but if I turn it on while driving or revving the engine on the driveway, the A/C clutch will not grab/engage and I can hear this HORRIBLE grinding (sounds like a band saw). The A/C works great and blows cold when I turn it on from a stop. Sometimes even from a stop it won't engage though. My warranty has expired so I have to fix it myself.

Pressure is good, I just replaced the low pressure switch, and the clutch turns just fine like it should. I checked the gap on the clutch and it looks pretty close, maybe .015"

I was just curious if you guys think my compressor clutch is the culprit? I don't know what to look for when I am under there.

Chopper1 said:

I don't know but i'll try to give you something to look for.Start by commandeering a helper,then have them cycle the A/C while you watch and listen to the clutch in operation.If the sound makes itself heard when the clutch engages,does it sound like its actually in the clutch or is it coming from inside the compressor.It doesn't really matter because if it's actually coming from the compressor it will have to be replaced.The compressor could be eating itself and the sooner you fix it the better the chance that pieces won't work their way into the orifice tube or other small openings and plug the system.If this happens then the system will have to be professionally cleaned or rebuilt.Repost and let us know how it turns out.

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Thanks for the advice. I will have my brother turn on and off the AC to see if I can pinpoint the grinding. It just seems that if the compressor was failing it wouldn't work at all. I just never understood why the AC will work for hours quietly and flawlessly but only when it was turned on from an idle, which made me believe it was the clutch.