Ac light blinks three times when pressed? And it seems the compressor is always engaged?

[iboughtatahoe23]

2014 Tahoe lt 177k miles.
Light blinks three times and won’t turn the ac on. I noticed the compressor or something sounds like the is going bad? Or is dirty? I hear a brushing noise from it when I start it up. I’ll drop videos

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[mikez71]

Possibly pressure is too low, could be evap temp, but if it never kicked on, evap shouldn't be too cold. A good scanner would help..
They do wear out. Once had one where the clutch was too worn, gap was too big. Magnet not strong enough to engage.
Mine is quite weak in the summer and a little noisy, think I will need a new one myself next year..

Reminds me of the time boss' friend brought their 2000 kia in to the hotrod shop. We were used to AC pressure switches being the main cause of a compressor not turning on. Turns out it was all computer controlled, and if the A/C fan didn't work, it wouldn't kick on.
I hate computer control for simple things. Never did get to tell him..

Starting to think nobody should work on anything new-ish without a scanner.. #1 diagnostic tool along with a meter..

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Possibly pressure is too low, could be evap temp, but if it never kicked on, evap shouldn't be too cold. A good scanner would help..
They do wear out. Once had one where the clutch was too worn, gap was too big. Magnet not strong enough to engage.
Mine is quite weak in the summer and a little noisy, think I will need a new one myself next year..

Reminds me of the time boss' friend brought their 2000 kia in to the hotrod shop. We were used to AC pressure switches being the main cause of a compressor not turning on. Turns out it was all computer controlled, and if the A/C fan didn't work, it wouldn't kick on.
I hate computer control for simple things. Never did get to tell him..

Starting to think nobody should work on anything new-ish without a scanner.. #1 diagnostic tool along with a meter..

My mistake. The compressor isn’t Always on. It doesn’t seem to kick on actually. And yea the ac light just blinks at me. Can’t tell if it’s the smaller belt making the noise or the compressor.


Would low pressure be due to ambient temps? Or how does that work. Pinhole leak?

 

[mikez71]

yup, leaked and low pressure. Here's some other things to try...

A/C light blinks 3 times and won't engage or turn on

Need some help. My battery died two days ago, and I replaced the battery, ever since my A/C won't engage or turn on. A/C was working before dead battery I have a 00 GMC Yukon XL SLT with automatic climate control with rear climate control. I have removed all the HVAC &AC fuses and relay's...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

AC fail/light flashing

Hello All, My 2010 'hoe is not blowing cold air and the AC Snowlake flashes three times when it is activated. I tried a trick I read where you try to reset something by pressing the recirculate air button and the snowflake at the same time for 10 seconds. It did not fix the issue. A bit...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

reset procedure
ambient temp <35 degF ? (Never heard of it until now)
A/C fan not working

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

yup, leaked and low pressure. Here's some other things to try...

A/C light blinks 3 times and won't engage or turn on

Need some help. My battery died two days ago, and I replaced the battery, ever since my A/C won't engage or turn on. A/C was working before dead battery I have a 00 GMC Yukon XL SLT with automatic climate control with rear climate control. I have removed all the HVAC &AC fuses and relay's...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

AC fail/light flashing

Hello All, My 2010 'hoe is not blowing cold air and the AC Snowlake flashes three times when it is activated. I tried a trick I read where you try to reset something by pressing the recirculate air button and the snowflake at the same time for 10 seconds. It did not fix the issue. A bit...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

reset procedure
ambient temp <35 degF ? (Never heard of it until now)
A/C fan not working

Makes sense… seems I have to recharge it every summer. You think just recharging it will get things back to normal? Or are we looking at something more extensive here now.

 

[mikez71]

If you've had to charge every summer, then it's very likely I'm thinking.
Other thing maybe temp, since it's cold by you. Temp less than 35degrees I expect it to not work, based on a couple of threads..

 

[Joseph Garcia]

As @mikez71 stated, there is an outside temperature below which the air conditioner won't turn on. If you attempt to turn the air conditioner on during these cold outside temperatures, you will get the 3 blinks from the air conditioner button when you push it.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

As @mikez71 stated, there is an outside temperature below which the air conditioner won't turn on. If you attempt to turn the air conditioner on during these cold outside temperatures, you will get the 3 blinks from the air conditioner button when you push it.

Thanks!

 

[LurkingLuke]

I have a somewhat related problem. My AC button and operation work fine, but my Recirculate button (which used to work fine) does the 3-blink think without engaging the recirculation function. If it weren't cold and dark out (and if I weren't a lazy bum) I'd check the fuse, but while I'm here I thought I'd ask in the hope it's a quick answer.

 

[swathdiver]

I have a somewhat related problem. My AC button and operation work fine, but my Recirculate button (which used to work fine) does the 3-blink think without engaging the recirculation function. If it weren't cold and dark out (and if I weren't a lazy bum) I'd check the fuse, but while I'm here I thought I'd ask in the hope it's a quick answer.

All this stuff is in your owner's manual.

 

[opfor2]

My mistake. The compressor isn’t Always on. It doesn’t seem to kick on actually. And yea the ac light just blinks at me. Can’t tell if it’s the smaller belt making the noise or the compressor.


Would low pressure be due to ambient temps? Or how does that work. Pinhole leak?

I delt with the same issue and it turned out that the Schrader valve in the dryer was leaking, and I had no more R134a refrigerant in the system. Replaced the dryer, evacuated the system, fully charger the system and now good to go. I bet your low on refrigerant.