I know the compressor is functional.
The Low Pressure Relay (I think that's what it is) appears to be broken. I managed to jump it directly and I put oil and coolant into the system after bleeding the air out of the system (once the compressor was running-the clutch wasn't engaging).

I'm talking about the wire attached to it on a bracket (though mine's not actually attached to a bracket...). I was getting 35-40 degree air while the compressor was jumped.

As soon as I put the wire back---nothing. No cold air anymore.

So I'm *pretty* sure it's that relay itself.... but I have NO idea where to find it. I've looked and it's apparently not a "relay". All of the fuses are ok.

Ideas? The woman needs it so she doesn't show up to work sweating in the soon-to-be-100-degree-heat.


PS: Still haven't re-checked my transmission filter. Haven't had the time with school. >.<

 

It looks like the Compressor clutch relay is just next to and toward the cabin of the radiator fan relay. It's not clear exactly where they are, but they appear to be almost centrally located side-to-side and somewhat closer to the front of the engine.
I know on old Blazers I've had that other sensors cause to clutch to lock out. Stuff like too high pressure or low pressure in the system and some other things. I hope yours is simply a bad relay.

 

I just looked under my hood and there's a black metal plate just to the left side of the battery as you face the engine bay. The relays appear to be under the plate. Good luck. There's a test for the relay if you need it.

 

Ah! I will check that out tomorrow. What is the test for it?

 

^thats the one. Switch them around to see if it works. Chances of having all bad relays are very very slim..

 

If switching the relays doesn't work, you apply 12v across the coil and check for continuity across the switched contacts. It should make and break when power is applied or removed.

 

^yes.

 

It'd be great if it's only a relay, but for some strange reason, I'd guess it's something else. My AC had never even been checked since I got the car in 97 and AC is used pretty much year round here. I just never wanted to break what was working. Last year I had a high pressure hose blow and got off lucky.

 

Your first post is confusing. You apparently bridged around some component you thought was a relay and system ran. Where is that component located?

good luck

 

That component I jumped was attached directly to the compressor on a bracket.

I finally found the damned relay "box". There were 5 relays... not the 3 that the Acura dealership said.

I switched a couple around and then back... and now the compressor works. So I have air conditioning.

Is there a map of which one of those relays is which? I'm not sure if I accidentally swapped a couple around... So I don't know if there isn't another system that must run that isn't running....

I'm talking about the relay "box" that's to the left of the battery basically on top of the radiator.

 

All relays in that "box" are same. Just test all of them and replace the bad one. Use your AC system to find the bad one..

 

OK, there're 3 relays closeest to the car front and 2 behind them. From left to right, and front to rear they are:


Radiator Fan Intermittent Wiper Condensor Fan
AC Compressor Fog Light

AC should be at left rear if I'm seeing this right.

 

Is there a diagram anywhere? None of these things have friggin labels :/`

 

I haven't figured out how to post pictures on the site, but if you email me at tempetom@hotmail.com I'll send you back the relay map.
This is pretty much my junk email account so I'm not worried about spam getting into it. I do check it a couple times a day though.