• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Ac Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter must86
  • Start date Start date Aug 18, 2021
M

must86

Member
Dec 15, 2001
10
1
14
Aug 18, 2021
#1
  • Aug 18, 2021
  • #1
1986 Mustang 5.0 factory air I owned for 27 years.

My ac has been acting up it works on cold startup freon reads good, then when it cycles or the switch is turn off and back on the clutch doesn’t kick back in and has no volts at clutch. When working the cycle switch has 12.2v on both sides, the wire at the wot relay from cycle switch has 12.2v, the red computer power wire has 14.1v, the computer to wot trigger is what I not sure about it reads 9.6v, then clutch wire reads 12.2v. Then when not working only thing different it no volts to clutch black/yellow wire. I tried two new relays still samething. (All volts reading are from a power probe III). If I use the power probe to add 12v to clutch wire it kicks in when not working.

Anyone got any ideas?
 

v8stang289

15 Year Member
Apr 22, 2008
136
116
74
Aug 18, 2021
#2
  • Aug 18, 2021
  • #2
When it stops, will the clutch kick back on if you bypass the cycle switch?
If so, you may have a failing switch or something not right with the charge/internal pressures
 
M

must86

Member
Dec 15, 2001
10
1
14
Aug 18, 2021
#3
  • Aug 18, 2021
  • #3
The cycle switch has power on both side when working and not working. So the cycle switch wouldnt be the problem, but was replaced because that was my first thought.
 
S

slow84lx

clean it good before insertion
Jul 3, 2005
372
180
63
Dallas, TX
Aug 18, 2021
#4
  • Aug 18, 2021
  • #4
Have you checked the dash controls? It's not unusual for them to go bad or need the contacts cleaned. Funny stuff happens when the electrical signals are intermittent.
 

TIGGER

Founding Member
Mar 6, 2000
877
244
104
Portland, OR
Aug 18, 2021
#5
  • Aug 18, 2021
  • #5
My saleen was doing a similar thing a couple months ago. Eventually it quit working because the compressor wouldn’t kick on. The engine would surge at idle when it wouldn’t kick on. The sn95’s do that when the low pressure switch goes bad. I bought a new switch from Napa and it fixed my problem. Ac works better than ever now. The low pressure switch is one thing I did not replace when I got the AC working again.

Does your engine surge at idle when you have the AC on and the compressor does not kick on?
 
M

must86

Member
Dec 15, 2001
10
1
14
Aug 19, 2021
#6
  • Aug 19, 2021
  • #6
The dash switch would be good it feed the power to the first side lower pressure cycle switch. I have power across the pressure switch when working and not working.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,145
17,839
224
Massachusetts
Aug 19, 2021
#7
  • Aug 19, 2021
  • #7
I have the wiring diagrams for 1986. Let me get a few shots of the AC wiring to see if it helps. I can do this tonight
 
M

must86

Member
Dec 15, 2001
10
1
14
Aug 19, 2021
#8
  • Aug 19, 2021
  • #8
Here is a little drawing, computer wire 54 wot trigger wire is my biggest question but the three wot relay control wire read the same work or not working. Only the black/yellow wire changes kick in clutch and if I add 12v from power probe it kicks in. Also the wiring in relay plug looks all good no sign of melting or hot wires.

Thanks Jerry
 

Attachments

  • 3C8FDEB8-D32E-44B2-B19D-D6A4A46F87C8.webp
    36.8 KB · Views: 127

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,145
17,839
224
Massachusetts
Aug 19, 2021
#9
  • Aug 19, 2021
  • #9
1986 wiring diagram

The 2nd pic shows the wiring of the WOT relay. Wire 361 should have battery voltage and wire 73 (to pin 54) should carry the same voltage when the ground on the ecu is closed (Pin 54 is a trigged ground).

 
Last edited: Aug 19, 2021
Reactions: Wayne Waldrep
M

must86

Member
Dec 15, 2001
10
1
14
Aug 19, 2021
#10
  • Aug 19, 2021
  • #10
Thanks
 
M

must86

Member
Dec 15, 2001
10
1
14
Aug 23, 2021
#11
  • Aug 23, 2021
  • #11
must86 said:
Thanks
Click to expand...
Update

I think I traced it down to a bad ecm, the pin wire 54 had 9.6-10.2v. The clutch should be hot on the relay unless the ecm gounds it out to kill power. Just swapped in the original computer that was taken out for bad capacitors, that has been fixed and pin 54 now gets 14.1v just like pin 57 and all seem good. Emc that was in the car is also showing signs that the three capacitors are leaking to And need to be replaced.


pic on corral.net

Ac help

1986 Mustang 5.0 factory air I owned for 27 years. My ac has been acting up it works on cold startup freon reads good, then when it cycles or the switch is turn off and back on the clutch doesn’t kick back in and has no volts at clutch. When working the cycle switch has 12.2v on both sides...
www.corral.net
 
M

must86

Member
Dec 15, 2001
10
1
14
Sep 1, 2021
#12
  • Sep 1, 2021
  • #12
Update I been driving the car for about a week and ac been working great with other computer installed.

Thanks Jerry
 
Reactions: v8stang289
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
89 mustang alarm install to lock and unlock
  • jk66
  • Apr 9, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
127
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Apr 10, 2026
jk66
J
F
AC Compressor Power & Contour Fans
  • Fri Guy
  • Aug 27, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
9
Views
315
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Aug 27, 2025
Fri Guy
F
82 Gen 1 Coyote Swap AC Questions...
  • thinkfaster
  • Aug 14, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
295
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Aug 15, 2025
thinkfaster
C
Electrical HELP! 1989 5.0 Stick, Voltage Bleed onto Ignition Trigger wire
  • ChickenDeluxe
  • May 14, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
125
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 24, 2026
ChickenDeluxe
C
Electrical AC relay location on 86?
  • TIGGER
  • Aug 26, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
158
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Aug 26, 2025
AeroCoupe
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?