A/C Compressor Problem

[dmc]

digging up an old thread. i'm having very similar issues on my 97 40th (auto climate). Doug did you ever find a resolution? my compressor engages if i run a jumper wire directly from the battery. i'm going to follow some of the other recommendations here this weekend but i'm hoping doug found an answer so i don't have to re-invent the wheel.

 

[TX Cruiser]

First thing you ought to look for is a black oily substance on the compressor from the pulley back. If it's nasty, shaft seal, if not, hook up the gauges.

Don't jump the compressor and let it run to see if it gets cold, you'll possibly toast it. You only do that if you think there might be a pressure switch issue, and you shouldn't run it more than necessary, regardless of what is going on. If it's electrical, the gauges will let you know, but you need them.

 

[NorCalDoug]

digging up an old thread. i'm having very similar issues on my 97 40th (auto climate). Doug did you ever find a resolution? my compressor engages if i run a jumper wire directly from the battery. i'm going to follow some of the other recommendations here this weekend but i'm hoping doug found an answer so i don't have to re-invent the wheel.

The guys at the Lexus dealership were also totally confounded by this one. In the end, they happened to have another LX 450 in for servicing, so they replaced parts, one-by-one and two-by-two (literally) and eventually determined that two different sensors were bad -- pretty much a one in a thousand type scenario...

If you check out post #9, it was A/C ambient temperature sensor and coolant temp sensor, if I recall correctly.

The problem is, with the LX 450, there are a number of things that can go wrong. When it's just one -- no big deal -- just swap each one out until the problem's solved. When it's more than one that goes bad, you're starting to complicate things significantly.


This probably wasn't much help to you in your current situation -- sorry about that. Hope you get it figured out. Post up the solution here when it's fixed.

 

[dmc]

so i guess i was lucky.

TX Cruiser, i had only run a lead from the battery to the compressor to see if it would engage. i didn't actually run it. next step up was check all the wiring to see if anything had been disconnected. i had recently pulled the dash apart to replace some bulbs in my climate control so i pull it out again to make sure i plugged everything back in. (although the a/c light was lighting up so i assumed it was) everything was plugged in so i popped the hood. after realizing the harness wound underneath my second battery and air cleaner i decided to start with the ones that were easily accessible. the connector just in front of the main battery that RavenTai mentioned above had come undone.

I've only driven my 80 once or twice since i took it to baja in november and since our winter just barely ended a few weeks ago i'm not sure if it's been unplugged all winter or just since i had it detailed a few weeks ago. plugged it back in and i'm good to go. i'm sorry your solution wasn't that easy doug. lesson learned? always start with the basics. thanks fellas.

 

[LX450BC]

I have a 1996 LX 450 and the air conditioning can be turned on or off manually but when the automatic climate control is on the air conditioning freezes up. It seems that its not communicating and just stays on. Does anybody have a fix for this or experiencing the same?