AC clutch engages disengages - HELP! i'm so sad

[dssence]

Well this is what happened, if anyone can help will be more than thankful.

My FT86 (2013), has been parked in my garage for a long time like about 8 years. I went just to start my car every week, and sometimes drove it just to refuel.

Now yesterday like I always do,started it, I just leave it 15 minutes with revs around 2000rpm. turned on the AC ( it has manual ac) , and I started hearing a click noise, then again.. and I started getting nervious and sad. I opened the hood and I could clearly see the AC clutch stopping and starting again not instantaneous but every 40 seconds.
Then saw what I guess is the accesories belt passing over the clutch. I thought this will go away but it kept doing it. Not at low revs. Something else I noticed when this happened, when I was accelerating around 2000rpm, and it clicked I heared the fan came on and then stopped, and revs falled a bit. I checked car temp on the dashboard and was fine.

I own my car for around 10 years and never changed the AC refrigerant or recharge it . Could this be caused by low gas pressure?. I went on checking videos and reading on the forum . Could it be the clutch relay going bad? My car can be classified almost like out of the dealer, I it's got 2000 km at max. Hope you guys can help me calm down , as I went really sad yesterday.



Blessings to everyone

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by dssence

Well this is what happened, if anyone can help will be more than thankful.

My FT86 (2013), has been parked in my garage for a long time like about 8 years. I went just to start my car every week, and sometimes drove it just to refuel.

Now yesterday like I always do,started it, I just leave it 15 minutes with revs around 2000rpm. turned on the AC ( it has manual ac) , and I started hearing a click noise, then again.. and I started getting nervious and sad. I opened the hood and I could clearly see the AC clutch stopping and starting again not instantaneous but every 40 seconds.
Then saw what I guess is the accesories belt passing over the clutch. I thought this will go away but it kept doing it. Not at low revs. Something else I noticed when this happened, when I was accelerating around 2000rpm, and it clicked I heared the fan came on and then stopped, and revs falled a bit. I checked car temp on the dashboard and was fine.

I own my car for around 10 years and never changed the AC refrigerant or recharge it . Could this be caused by low gas pressure?. I went on checking videos and reading on the forum . Could it be the clutch relay going bad? My car can be classified almost like out of the dealer, I it's got 2000 km at max. Hope you guys can help me calm down , as I went really sad yesterday.



Blessings to everyone

I'd suggest you take it into a shop and have the AC checked.

[Grady]

Clutch cycling can be normal behavior. If the charge is low it could be hitting the low pressure switch and turning off the compressor. If the clutch is engaging and disengaging probably not a clutch issue. Without gauges to watch the pressure everything is just a guess.

[Opie]

Originally Posted by Grady

Clutch cycling can be normal behavior. If the charge is low it could be hitting the low pressure switch and turning off the compressor. If the clutch is engaging and disengaging probably not a clutch issue. Without gauges to watch the pressure everything is just a guess.

This, it sounds perfectly normal to me.

[dssence]

Originally Posted by Grady

Clutch cycling can be normal behavior. If the charge is low it could be hitting the low pressure switch and turning off the compressor. If the clutch is engaging and disengaging probably not a clutch issue. Without gauges to watch the pressure everything is just a guess.

Thanks by some reason I wasn't notified by email I got a response. So that's what I needed to know. There aren't many variables. I did talk with someoen which said it was a faulty relay, by the way these are micro relays. I will swap the one of the horn and see if I have the same behavour. But it not it could be it needs more coolant. What seems strange to me I bought this car on 2013 , how could the coolant go away. But yes I've read about low pressure switch. Anyways.. it's not that bad, I thought it could be worse and a nightmare. Thanks for helping.

[dssence]

Originally Posted by Opie

This, it sounds perfectly normal to me.

Not that normal cause it keeps engaging and disengaging , like every 30 seconds and again .. this wasn't happening before. Like I said I'm, not moving this car for along time only to refuel and start it. But the only thing it happened some days ago was it was really hot like around 45C . Don't think that might affect lines on compressor. What I came across was some people saying relay might be gone bad. I will trty that.. anything else? if not I guess I will have to take it to an AC shop and check if coolant it's ok or recharge.
Thanks again, apologies for not answering before but I wasn't notified of the repy.

[dssence]

Originally Posted by humfrz

I'd suggest you take it into a shop and have the AC checked.

Thanks mate wasn't notified of the reply like I said to other mates. I think if it's not the relay, will take it toan AC shop and check for the pressure on coolant.

[Opie]

Originally Posted by dssence

Not that normal cause it keeps engaging and disengaging , like every 30 seconds and again .. this wasn't happening before. Like I said I'm, not moving this car for along time only to refuel and start it. But the only thing it happened some days ago was it was really hot like around 45C . Don't think that might affect lines on compressor. What I came across was some people saying relay might be gone bad. I will trty that.. anything else? if not I guess I will have to take it to an AC shop and check if coolant it's ok or recharge.
Thanks again, apologies for not answering before but I wasn't notified of the repy.

Every 86 I have does this depending on ambient temperature and setting of the A/C....

[dssence]

Originally Posted by Opie

Every 86 I have does this depending on ambient temperature and setting of the A/C....

thanks mate , how often do you hear the ac clutch engaging ( is it seconds or couple minutes) , that click. Also mine is 86 FT/MT with manual ac .

[Opie]

Originally Posted by dssence

thanks mate , how often do you hear the ac clutch engaging ( is it seconds or couple minutes) , that click. Also mine is 86 FT/MT with manual ac .

It all depends on the ambient temp and A/C settings, can be every few minutes, or every 30-50 seconds.

[dssence]

Originally Posted by Opie

It all depends on the ambient temp and A/C settings, can be every few minutes, or every 30-50 seconds.

noo wayy, you sure 30-50 seconds cause that is what happened to me. Then I heard the internal fan kicking from the hood. made me worry for sure

[Ultramaroon]

I tried to tell you it's normal. Even if it isn't, quit freaking out and just get it checked.

[villainous_frx]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I tried to tell you it's normal. Even if it isn't, quit freaking out and just get it checked.

That's no fun!

[FR-S2GT86]

Originally Posted by dssence

noo wayy, you sure 30-50 seconds cause that is what happened to me. Then I heard the internal fan kicking from the hood. made me worry for sure

This does not sound like a relay issue.

The main question in this case would be, (and I'm surprised nobody has asked it yet):

Is the A/C keeping you cool enough on a hot day?

If the answer is NO, then you are most likely low on refrigerant due to a leak. If the answer is YES, then there is probably no issue, and the system is cycling normally according to the load on it. The load being the outdoor ambient temperature, and the temperature and humidity of the air passing through the evaporator coil inside the cabin (the air that is blowing out of the vents to cool you down).

In either case, you won't be able to really diagnose without using a set of refrigerant gauges.

I'm going to tell you what I tell my old lady when she gets upset: "Just calm down, you're overreacting."