Does your A/C Compressor ever cycle?

[nikon]

Ive been pondering it for a while now....but ever since I bought my car my A/C compressor has never cycled on/off, it just stays running all the time (when commanded on) all other cars Ive EVER seen have always had their A/C compressors cycle on/off, is this normal or do I have a problem....cause my a/c works just fine other than that

[Pastor Larry Roques]

I'm no A/C expert, but I, like you, live in one of the most challenging (whew!, I almost wrote miserable) climates in the whole of the continent.
I have not necessarily noticed it on my car either. I would attribute it to the fact that the car's A/C system has such a monumental task of compensating for the heat extremes in temperature, and more importantly, something many of our F-body bretheren do not have to contend with...the HUMIDITY, found here in the Southeastern United States. I would wait until the milder temperatures of fall to recheck under the hood for the engaging/disengaging of the compresser clutch. If it does not cycle then, you may want to seek out a shop to check for a faulty relay or switch. Other than that...I live by my late father's old wisdom..."if it ain't broke...don't fix it!" Blessings

[nikon]

so nobody else???...btw it runs constantly in the winter time as well, I can have it on full heat and it still runs non stop...anyone else????

[Rob Bell]

I think a lot of GM cars don't cycle. Most of my GM cars never did, except for an Astro van we had. I also had an old Honda that cycled. It depends on the type of system used. Some are designed to cycle, and some are not.

[chas]

when running the defrost in the cooler months my a/c cycles. i dont think its particular to the defrost settings. a/c during cooler months would cycle too but i dont run the a/c when its cool out.

[Everglades W68]

The A/C runs continously once it is turned on. Just the engine fans cycle on and off.

['94firebirdv6]

if i have mine on low
my ac compressor cycles on and off
i dont know whats up w/ the rest of you guys but mine does

[L32Projekt]

My '94 would cycle the A/C also, you could hear the clutch engage/disengage. Sounded like a loud click when the hood was open.

[terminaldegree]

I'm no expert on this [just bought my f-body 2 weeks ago or so], but if I remember my Hanes manual, the more recent compressors on the 3800 do NOT cycle full on or off like most compressors, rather the load cycle is variable.

On my car, I hear it click on, but afterward I never hear it cycle on or off until I turn it off completely. I've no idea why they did this with only one engine, though.

[Pastor Larry Roques]

yeah, try running it on AC rather than "MAX COOL" or whatever it says and see if the compressor clutch engages and disengages. I keep mine on max cool down here...or I'll turn to toast
Blessings!

[F1GT]

When you put it on Recirculate, Outside air, Bi-Level, or Windshield. The compressor turns on, on both my previous Beretta and current Camaro, and does not turn off until I turn the dial.
Why should it go on and off like a fridge? It's not like it's auto-climate control...

[nikon]

ok well cool, nothing wrong then...good deal, thanks guys, so I guess its just the newer models that run constantly and the older ones cycle....works for me

[Dan Vincent]

Would be nice if my A/C worked at all... bleh.

[nikon]

do you know why its not working...not engaging cause its got no freon???...indulge me

[Dan Vincent]

Originally posted by nikon:
do you know why its not working...not engaging cause its got no freon???...indulge me

The A/C just blows hot air, there's no difference between A/C and the vent setting. It doesn't seem to want to take freon (it took really long to empty the can, and yes, the can did get cold when I opened it). The system appears to be empty according to the gauges, and I try putting in freon.... I got the clutch to engage, which tells me the compressor is still good, but I think I've got a leak somewhere, and I can't seem to see the dye I put in. I was planning on getting it taken someone to pull a vacuum, flush and recharge, but I just wanted to see if my compressor was shot first.

I think the evaporator in the dash is shot, as when I got the clutch to kick in and got it to take in some freon, I sat inside and heard a loud hissing noise near the passenger side.