Engage AC Compressor Clutch with a Paperclip on Relay | How to Fix Bypass Won't Engage | Jump Relay

If your A/C compressor clutch won't engage because the refrigerant is too low, then you can jump the 30 and 87 pins to get the Clutch Engage. Make sure you are prepared to immediately fill the refrigerant, or shut off the engine and prepare after seeing this works to engage the AC clutch. Because you do not want to damage the compressor by turning it on too long without Refrigerant.

[DarienDrakee]

Believe it or not, In most dealship workshop manuals this is step #2 in troubleshooting the ac compressor.

[megaglowz]

Man. Thank you for this. Every forum post I could find, they always want to be so elaborate with schematics and technical talk trying to tell you how to do this.And I'm like I don't want to learn about A/C theory and analyze I'm just an idiot in my driveway with a can of refrigerant, just show me a picture lol. Thank you.

[markwubbolding]

Coming from a non-mechanical person like myself. WORKED LIKE A CHAMP! THANKS!!!

[steppenpark]

I really appreciate this. Once I saw the compressor and everything worked, I jumped it, filled freon, and restarted. Now, it didn't cut on initially on its own but I simply disconnected the car battery for a minute to reset everything and it worked! With all the intelligence in cars you'd think a simple refrigerant gauge would be made. Nope. Imagine how many people replaced ac systems when all they needed was to attempt this process first.

[kalabamaman]

This really helped! Thanks!! Ended up not needing the refrigerant, but this hack pinpointed something wrong with my relay.

[jday]

This video taught me how to fix the ac in my work truck which has been out for 3 years. Thank you so much!

[OtisBGR]

Worked like a charm! My was a bit different on the relay. I was working on our 2009 Ford Fusion 2.3L. The relay is model 5L3T-AA. It has four posts marked as 1, 2, 3, 5. So I looked up the relay diagram and saw that I needed to use 3 and 5. Clutch engaged, and we added our R134-a. Took it for a 10 minute drive and was super cold by the time we arrived home. I turned the A/C on and off several times to ensure the clutch would keep engaging. Great video! Thanks!!

[eibronmonde]

Thank you so much bro! You saved me from not buying a new compressor. I did what you did on how to overide the ac clutch to work on my '08 Odyssey that im having trouble for 2days.! Thank you! More power to you!

[indianajoe]

After, I had figured out that my low-pressure switch was good on a 2002 jeep liberty. I applied your method of Engaging an AC Compressor Clutch with a Paperclip on Relay. And now my AC is working like a champ. Thank Poolarity - Life Hacks

[wavemanran]

Thanks for the info. I was searching for ways to bypass a faulty relay for central air and this popped up which is definitely needed being that my wife’s compressor clutch is not engaging. I’m going to try this and see if it works. Thanks again!

[levonmcallister]

Great Advice... I didn't know what was wrong with AC system. This technique allowed me to get the Clutch engaged. And since I had a can of refrigerant, I bought thinking it just needed a charge, I added the can to system. With one can I felt I might be getting cool air. Ran to auto store for another can... added just a little from 2nd can and YES!!! I have cold air. Thanks so much!!

[davidcollins]

So I have a 2006 dodge grand caravan, have not had ac in years (my teenagers were driving so I didn't care if it had air lol) But now I'm driving it and it's getting hot out.. All the refrigerant had leaked out due to the notorious rear leak. So I capped the rear lines (very easy). I proceeded to put refrigerant in but the ac clutch did not engage (I thought bad compressor due to not being used in so long. Did a little more research and read it would not engage if refrigerant was empty so I jumped the relay (30 to 87) and the compressor came on! Filled it up with 3 12oz cans and now works great! Thank you for the video!

[SkitsInfinity]

Amen! Great help. Had the same rock and a hard place issue with the compressor not engaging due to being empty on refrigerant.

[johnperry]

That was a great example how to save money cause dealer would have told said you need a compressor

[jamesebola]

I don't think A/C relay "knows" if you are low on refrigerant. It simply sends electric current to the A/C clutch.
That's all it does. Another component called "the refrigerant pressure switch" can prevent clutch from engaging if you are low on refrigerant. It would have to be bypassed in order to charge the system. That is the real "chicken and the egg" situation....

[machavarria]

I watched several videos none of them made any sense until I watched this one, chevy traverse follow this exact steps and it works for me

[lawrencerasmus]

Thank you so much, only video that got to the point and not on and on about nothing, Thank you

[christen]

Hope it helps? You kidding? You just saved me a boatload of time and money!!! Many many thanks!

[taylorgrasman]

Thank you very much, now I can check to make sure the spacing is correct (my refrigerant must me low so I couldn’t engage the clutch by turning the a/c on). The new clutch engages and disengages as it should when I manually bypass it as you showed.

[timminter]

Do you put the paper clip in first then start the car or after you start the car