Inspection of the Refrigerant Compressor

sd plus mm 83.01.001
  1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, shut down the engine, and set the parking brake. Chock the tires.
  2. Operate the heater and, if equipped with an air conditioner, the air conditioner to check for proper operation in all modes.
  3. Open the hood.
  4. Check the condition of the refrigerant compressor clutch assembly. If the friction surface of the pulley shows signs of excessive grooving due to belt slippage, replace both the pulley and the drive plate.
  5. Inspect the refrigerant compressor drive belt for damage. If needed, replace the drive belt.
  6. Check the tightness of the compressor mounting fasteners. The torque value for the mounting fasteners is 15 to 19 lbf·ft (20 to 26 N·m).
  7. Inspect the drive plate. If the friction surface of the drive plate shows visible signs of damage due to excessive heat, make sure the refrigerant compressor turns freely. If the compressor does turn freely, replace the drive plate and clutch assembly. See  of the 108SD Plus and 114SD Plus Workshop Manual for instructions. If the compressor does not turn freely, replace the compressor. See  of the 108SD Plus and 114SD Plus Workshop Manual for instructions.
  8. Use a feeler gauge to check that the drive plate clutch clearance is 0.012 to 0.024 inch (0.3 to 0.6 mm). If the gap is not even around the clutch, gently tap down at the high areas. If the overall gap is out of specification, remove the drive plate assembly and change the shims as necessary. See  of the 108SD Plus and 114SD Plus Workshop Manual for instructions.
  9. Check that the wiring harness connector is not damaged or loose. Replace the wiring harness if it is damaged.
  10. Check the overall condition of the air conditioning hoses. Look for cracks, cuts, and abrasions on the hoses. Replace the damaged hoses.
  11. Check for a buildup of road debris on the condenser fins. Using air pressure and a whisk broom or a soapy spray of water, carefully clean off the condenser. Be careful not to bend the fins.
  12. Check the moisture indicator on the receiver-drier. See Fig.. If the indicator is a deep cobalt blue, the refrigerant charge is dry. If the indicator is not blue, the system is contaminated with water. If the system is contaminated, recover the refrigerant, replace the receiver drier, evacuate the system, and add a full refrigerant charge. See  of the 108SD Plus and 114SD Plus Workshop Manual for instructions.
  13. Close the hood and remove the chocks from the tires.

    1. Fan Cycling Switch

    2. Moisture Indicator

    3. Binary Switch

    4. Receiver-Drier

    Fig. 1, Receiver-Drier

Note:
Parent topic: Air Conditioner Inspecting
Document Number: 0000120652
Manual Publication Date: 2024-06-03
Topic Publication Date: 2024-10-31