# A/c clutch on off

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-clutch-on-off/926>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 24, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-clutch-on-off/926 "2007-06-24T20:49:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chrislamar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/fbc32d/32.png) [@chrislamar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chrislamar)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-clutch-on-off/926/1 "2007-06-24T20:49:36Z")

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my 1988 Olds 88 A/C clutch will only engage for a few seconds then disengage for about a minute then engage a few seconds and on and on. The A/C is not working and I recently converted to 134a. What might be the prob.?

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-clutch-on-off/926/2 "2007-06-24T21:05:35Z")

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You Have a Leak

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**Author:** ![smurfmorgan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@smurfmorgan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/smurfmorgan)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-clutch-on-off/926/3 "2007-06-24T21:06:09Z")

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the compressor will do this if it’s low on freon.check the freon and see if it’s low if it’s not your relay is probably bad.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-clutch-on-off/926/4 "2007-06-24T23:25:08Z")

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Knowing the pressures would help, but the most likely cause is low refrigerant due to a leak followed by a faulty low pressure switch.

If that’s the original R4 compressor then it’s done a good job up to this point.

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**Author:** ![star882](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/star882/32/39_2.png) [@star882](https://community.cartalk.com/u/star882)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 12:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-clutch-on-off/926/5 "2007-06-25T00:20:26Z")

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Was a good vacuum pulled when the conversion was done? Air in the system can cause excessive pressures and overloading, as well as causing compressor burnout.

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**Author:** ![willey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9adbd/32.png) [@willey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willey)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-clutch-on-off/926/6 "2007-06-25T02:54:04Z")

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STAR… What the heck are you talking about??? The system is low on freon, that causes the compressor to cycle on and off you dipstick.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 3:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-clutch-on-off/926/7 "2007-06-25T03:00:46Z")

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As usual, Star spouting a bunch of incorrect A/C info again.  
Autos are a big enough expense and aggravation without making the situation worse. It’s not helpful nor is it even funny.