A/C compressor not turning on

Tiny
NASER NASER
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 151,000 MILES
A/C compressor not kicking, is this one supposed to turn free by hand with car off? I have seen VW ones that you can't turn with your hand. I am trying to figure out whether it's locked. Also, I have codes that are history, do these have anything to do with the A/C running?
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Sunday, July 12th, 2020 AT 9:43 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
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Let's start with jumping the relay to see if the compressor comes on. This is a magnetic clutch compressor so I would assume it should be able to spin freely.

However, if jumping power to it does not cause it to come on then I would think it is locked up since it doesn't spin as well.

Let me know if you jump pin 5 to 3 on the relay or just jump 12 volts to the compressor.
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Sunday, July 12th, 2020 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
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Actually the compressor turns by hand. Couldn't get it to kick on by jumping any if the relay wires. I cant tell which is 3 and which is 5. But I tried them all, jumping between any if them nothing happens. With a test light two of them have power with engine running and none of them show to be ground.
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Monday, July 13th, 2020 AT 10:15 AM
Tiny
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Okay. We could still have a wiring issue to the compressor so let's jump power from the battery directly to the compressor. Just back probe the compressor or remove the connector and touch the 12 volt wire to the pin for the compressor (looks like it only has one). If the compressor comes on then we will chase the ground issue because clearly that doesn't sound right. The control module should be grounding the relay when it wants the compressor on so let's just make sure we don't have two issues and the compressor will actually come on.
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+1
Monday, July 13th, 2020 AT 5:09 PM
Tiny
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Makes sense. Will do, thanks.
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Monday, July 13th, 2020 AT 5:21 PM
Tiny
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Sounds good. We will wait to hear back. Thanks
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Monday, July 13th, 2020 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
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So I removed the compressor's connector, jumped a wire from the battery positive to the compressor and nothing happened. Also connected the male/female of the compressor wire with a clip and attached a wire between them to the positive and nothing happened. But I also checked with a test light and when the car is running A/C on there is no power going to the A/C compressor wire.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 8:02 AM
Tiny
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Never mind the previous message. I forgot to put the relay back, lol. So after I installed it I found there is power at the compressor wire with engine on. Also with engine on the pressure is 75 at low and 80 at high, I thought maybe low on Freon but I doubt it.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 8:27 AM
Tiny
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Yeah. Take a look at this chart as I agree it is probably not low Freon. The 50/50 is what I suspect the issue is. Basically when the pressures are low and equal it is due to the compressor not coming on. If you have power at the compressor but it still doesn't come on then the compressor is the issue.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
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I see. And just for my own info all these readings are for when the compressor is not running, engine on, ac on, and the number on left is low pressure side
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 7:44 PM
Tiny
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These numbers are when the engine is running and compressor is on. The number of the left is the high side.
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Wednesday, July 15th, 2020 AT 4:52 PM

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