saturn s series ac clutch

[spasm3]

My sons 01 sc1 has a bad a/c clutch. It won't engage even with a can of r134 attached. With the ac switch on and the fan on full. i do measure 13 or so volts in the wire going to the clutch. The shops around me will only change the entire compressor to the tune of $800. No one nearby carries just the clutch. I can get a compressor from a u pull it yard for $50 bucks. I plan on removing the clutch from this compressor and installing it on the existing one. How hard and what tools do i need to remove and install the clutch?

Thanks

 

[Chris142]

Sounds like your coil is bad. I can't remember ever changing one on a saturn but I assume you will need a ac clutch tool set. We don't normally mess with replacing clutches and coils. Often the cost of those parts (new) is more than a whole compressor with clutch.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
How hard and what tools do i need to remove and install the clutch?


Seems pretty hard to find proper tools but this may vary by model:

Saturn A/C compressor clutch

My 99 SL2 compressor bearing was noisy. I ended up having shop install a re-manufactured compressor which made A/C work better and took care of the noise.

Here is someone who was successful. Maybe laster years are easier?

Clutch removal

 

[heyu]

If you can turn the clutch by hand,power going to the plug,a can a freon attached and nothing ? ,,,, you have a obstruction in the system ,,condenser or evaporator

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: heyu
If you can turn the clutch by hand,power going to the plug,a can a freon attached and nothing ? ,,,, you have a obstruction in the system ,,condenser or evaporator


There is also a magnetic coil in the clutch that when energized engages the compressor.

 

[artificialist]

Good luck finding a junkyard compressor that works. Those cars typically get 12-13 years out of the factory unit.

I am trying to remember if a Saturn S-Series AC compressor is hard to DIY. I haven't had to do this job in over 5 years.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: dishdude


There is also a magnetic coil in the clutch that when energized engages the compressor.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Good luck finding a junkyard compressor that works. Those cars typically get 12-13 years out of the factory unit.

I am trying to remember if a Saturn S-Series AC compressor is hard to DIY. I haven't had to do this job in over 5 years.


Its only the coil i want to switch out from the junkyard unit to the existing compressor, that way i don't lose the r134 already in there.

 

[artificialist]

Oh, okay...
That sounds like a great idea then. I hope you can find the right junkyard part, because typically clutch problems are not what kills the compressor. Instead, it leaks internally and doesn't build pressure.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Oh, okay...
That sounds like a great idea then. I hope you can find the right junkyard part, because typically clutch problems are not what kills the compressor. Instead, it leaks internally and doesn't build pressure.


The clutch won't engage i checked and there is voltage going to the coil, yet it just freewheels. I just need to get the proper tools to remove and reinstall the clutch/pulley to get to the coil underneath. I have located a car i can pull the compressor from ( $50) in a u-pull it lot. I plan to remove that coil from the junkyard compressor.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Richpin over at SaturnFans has a video where he hits a button over behind the battery area to make the compressor kick on.

Let me know if you cannot find it and I'll PM it to ya.

 

[punisher]

Sometimes it is something as simple as excess clutch gap. Turn your AC on, with clutch coil getting voltage. Use a screwdriver, or something that fits and hold it in front of the clutch plate. If you get a magnetic tug on it, but the compressor doesn't engage, pull off the clutch plate from the compressor input shaft and pull out a shim until the gap is reduced enough for a proper engage.

I am not sure of the exact clutch setup on your system, but all of the compressors I have dealt with had shims used to adjust clutch gap.