AC York Compressor Clutch Acting Up!!!

L DC ldc007usa at yahoo.com
Sat Mar 17 21:59:23 PDT 2012


Hello all!!
 
I recently had all the AC hoses rebuilt, and I cleaned and painted York compressor before recharging system with R134A freon in my '87 VW QSW.
 
Today, I hooked up a vacuum pump to the compressor and vacuumed the whole system and vacuum held just fine, which indicated no leaks. I replaced all the o-rings and drier, of course.
 
After filling the system with two 12-once cans of freon, the clutch began to engage but would turn very, very slow. I tapped on the AC clutch a couple of times on it with a piece of wood and it engaged at the same speed as the the pulley, but would make a nut-cracking-like noise that would go away if I revved the engine past 1200 RPMS.
 
The air vents inside the car began to emit air cold enough to feel comfortable but could use a bit more freon.
 
Anyway, if I kept revving the engine at around 1200 or slightly more, the vents kept on fanning colder air. 
 
I went for a short drive and some 3 minutes later the air out of the vents was no longer cold. I pulled over and noticed the AC clutch was dis-engaged. I tapped some three time on the clutch and it engaged back again. I get back home and the AC clutch is once again dis-engaged.
 
Again, I tapped on the AC clutch and it engage again I went inside the car. I kept the engine revs at about 1500 RPMs for about 7 minutes the AC worked perfectly.
 
What the heck is going on?
 
Is the AC clutch going bad or needs some type of cleaning?
 
Could it be the AC relay?
 
Bad or poor ground?
 
Also, when the AC clutch is engaged, the belt behaves as if it were way too loose, wobbling as if it were to come off the pulley at any moment. I turned engine off to check for slack on the belt and it was not tight, tight, but it was not loose either, what gives? 
 
A note, that might clear the wobbling belt when clutch is engaged:
The suction hose coming from the evaporator inside the car had a canister-like cylinder that when I had the hose rebuilt was not placed in the same exact spot and, thus, could not fit back in the car. Therefore, I took the hose back to the shop and had then remove the canister altogether. What's the function of this canister-like device on the suction hose? Could the elimination of it be the cause for which the AC compressor puts on that extra vibration on the belt?
 
Thanks again for your much appreciated input.
 
Best Regards!!
 
-Louis


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