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2002 Impala AC will not work unless interior lights are on
The air conditioner cools very well except that it will not engage the compressor unless one of the doors is opened which powers the interior lights or the interior lights are manually turned on with the switch.With the switch in its normal position once you close the doors
the ac cuts out?? any ideas?
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Sounds like it is low on the coolant which causes it to only work part of the time. You could probably take the car to a auto parts store and at least here in the midwest, they can help recharge your freon/R22 so you have a good working air conditioner. If that is properly charged and leak free, then your air conditioner compressor might be going bad, but then you would hear a lot of belt squealing when it wasn't working. Most likely though it is just low on the freon/R22.
By the way, air conditioners don't have spark plugs......LOL
there is a thermostat connected to the evaporator under the dash which controls the ac compressor when the cabin temperature reaches the setting . This thermostat can be affected by dirty cooling fins on the evaporator which causes icing of the evaporator and upsets the settings as it will switch off prematurely because of the ice leaving the cabin temperature hot.. I suggest that you have an accredited ac shop look at the problem as it may also be a blocked TX valve in the evaporator.
I would check the following possibilities: 1. Is compressor clutch working? - You need to do this when the ac is blowing hot air only - locate compressor drive pulley on engine - rubber belt wraps around it. Start engine and set to max ac. When the ac is blowing hot air, look at the center of the compressor drive pulley using a good flash light - watch it for a while, it should be spinning with the pulley - this means the compressor is engaged. If not, the compressor is not engaged. If your ac is blowing hot air, then the compressor should be engaged and running (trying to cool). If it is not engaged, then your compressor clutch is probably going out. Could be low voltage to clutch, but more likely the clutch is worn out and only working some of the time. Note: if working normally, the compressor clutch will engage and disengage in cycles- but the air should always be cold. If clutch is bad, compressor would need to be replaced (sold as one unit). This is tricky to diagnose and could take some time - you need to do it when ac is blowing hot air but set to max cooling.
2. Low on refrigerant or refrigerant has moisture in it? If your ac blows cold initially after being off for a while, then heats up, and continues to regularly cycle back and forth between hot and cool air, then the system may be low on refrigerant or the refrigerant may have moisture in it that is freezing and restricting refrigerant flow. An a/c shop can check refrigerant level and even replace refrigerant if moisture is suspected.
Could be other issues, but I would start with these.
this first to do is check wiring to compressor clutch,when ac is not working check the ac clutch it should be engaged,test for power and ground at ac compressor clutch, you may have a bad wire to clutch or a bad compressor clutch,
That clutch and coil are serviceable without replacing the compressor but I have had little success with this as usually the clutch gets in that shape subsequently from activity going on inside the compressor which means that clutch is failed generally for a reason.replace the compressor -orfice tube-reciever drier and happy motoring......
Air conditioning systems are always high-pressure systems,simply because the refrigerant used is a gas forced to become liquid.
In fact, a loss in pressure in the cooling lines means that your system will have no cooling capacity.
Your problem description points towards your compressor not engaging. There could be a switch in your car's interior/dashboard that indicates 'COOL' or A/C (or something like it) that should manually engage/disengage your a/c compressor.
In case this still does not work, your compressor clutch or the electrical system engaging this is faulty and will need the attention of a qualified service technician.
Yes the system can be full of freon and yet not work, the pressure switch could faulty, the expansion valve too could be faulty, he drier receiver too.
On switching 'on' the AC , is the AC compressor workingor rather does it engage?
The AC compressor clutch too could be not functioning.
I guess you have to go step by step to check first if the AC compressor does rotate on switching 'on' the AC.
First suggestion is the clutch not engaging. Check voltage at clutch plug and confirm power source, if there is power there then clutch would work unless it has failed.
BCM?
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