Any good reason to unplug the AC compressor?

P

Popranger

New Member
My son's '97 XLT has the 4.0 and AC. Just bought it a few days ago. I noticed the connection on top of the AC comp was unplugged. Is there some tricky advantage to doing this in winter, or was somebody just absent minded? I am just learning about this motor and Rangers, so I thought I should ask. There is a click noise about 20 seconds, just one click. My '86 Mustang 5.0 did that back when it was a few months old and a neighbor said the AC might be cycling on and off, but that was also during winter and I didn't have the AC switch on.

I've only seen the truck for like 3 minutes the day he bought it, so I don't even know if these have an electric fan on them? I thought maybe the click was an electric fan cycling???
 
I have never heard of any reason to disconnect it other than it never worked and they felt the need to disconnect it
 
Do NOT disconnect those hoses!!!! Have a professional garage discharge the system before doing so or toxic gasses will excape. You dont want Freon in your lungs/eyes, trust me.
 
my guess it probly a small leak somewhere so they unplugged it. i thought of unplugging it but it helps with the defrost settings but i hate when it comes on for PANEL/FLOOR setting.


sometimes to add HP i turn it off a a/c setting and let the ponies loose....lol
 
Even if your a/c is not working it should be turned on once in a while to make sure the clutch and stuff don't freeze up.
 
Brinker88 said:
Do NOT disconnect those hoses!!!! Have a professional garage discharge the system before doing so or toxic gasses will excape. You dont want Freon in your lungs/eyes, trust me.
Click to expand...

i think he means the electrical plug? only thing that will do is keep the compressor from engaging, it won't free up any hp (if any) under normal use unless the belt has been replaced to bypass that pulley
 
Save gas maybe, doesn’t work maybe but when it is wet outside or early morning fogging of the windshield, you will wish it was hooked up.

It is an integral part of the defrost system.
 
you'll want to plug it back in. I myself and my father both had pumps lock up, or the clutch anyhow, from unlugging it. it needs to kick on to keep things moving. If you want to by pass it, simply buy a belt for a truck with no AC
 
Some folks disconnect the compressor switch when the compressor is junk/nearly seized up. One way to figure it out is to fire the truck up and connect the electrical connector. If she squeels and moans and groans like mad, we now know why it was disconnected. She's an expensive part to replace.

Two previous vehicles of mine were this way when I purchased them.


ZRanger28 said:
ppl unplug it as a pathetic attempt to save gas ( it doesnt help)
Click to expand...

(it actually does help).


I've got a toggle switch interrupting the clutch switch that overrides the circuit. I've seen the difference in numbers on my truck. Ever drive your truck with the A/C on full bore? Notice the lack in power? That right there debunks your theory in disconnecting the clutch and it not helping economy.


In the winter time with the defrost on is where the most difference is seen. Don't really need compressor assistance for defrost. A/C don't get nice and nipple hardening cold without the compressor on. So switching it off is pointless for coldness. Result is muggy warm air. lol.
 
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