Any AC gurus? AC will only turn on if I jump the compressor at the fuse box

[76Nick]

So I've been dealing with this air conditioning issue for a while now. Started trying to trace a leak which I seem to have gotten. I replaced a ton of seals, the accumulator, the high and low valves, compressor clutch switch that's on the side of the accumulator,
evaporator core, orifice tube and blocked off the rear AC because the lines underneath the truck in the rear did not look too great.

Pulled a vacuum and it stayed where it should on the gauge so I just recharged the system. For some reason the high side seemed low on the manifold gauge, around 160. The low side was right at 50. The AC will not turn on with the climate controls but if I jump it at the circuit breaker it comes on and blows cold. Any ideas?

I'm fighting like hell to not have to pay somebody to fix this for me. Thank you

 

[SpareParts]

Bad circuit breaker or switch, does it have power to the breaker?

 

[76Nick]

Bad circuit breaker or switch, does it have power to the breaker?

I swapped out the AC breaker with the high beam breaker but to no avail. I removed the breaker and jumped 87 and 30 and it turns on. The snowflake light on my climate controls is on solid and not flashing.

 

[SpareParts]

Did you 0411 swap it? I had the exact same problem when i had a 1998 and 0411 swapped it. Had a ground and compressor wire wrong if i remember right.

 

[76Nick]

Did you 0411 swap it? I had the exact same problem when i had a 1998 and 0411 swapped it. Had a ground and compressor wire wrong if i remember right.

I'm sorry, what do you mean by 0411 swap it?

 

[SpareParts]

If you don't know, you did not do it. 0411 ECU replaces the black box ecu.

 

[76Nick]

Interesting

If you don't know, you did not do it. 0411 ECU replaces the black box ecu.

Interesting I haven't done that but I'm not sure about the kid I bought it from. How can I tell if that's been done? The numbering on the ECU or simply the color of it?

 

[SpareParts]

Look under the hood. Do you have a big black box ecu or is it a silver looking ecu?

 

[76Nick]

Look under the hood. Do you have a big black box ecu or is it a silver looking ecu?

Yeah it's the black one....however when I went out to my truck a bit ago and turned on the AC I heard a loud noise so I instantly turned it off and right afterwards I could smell the freon outside of the truck and now there is a big puddle of AC oil underneath the compressor on the ground. All this leads me to think the compressor simply wasn't working correctly and then finally let go.

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

Yeah it's the black one....however when I went out to my truck a bit ago and turned on the AC I heard a loud noise so I instantly turned it off and right afterwards I could smell the freon outside of the truck and now there is a big puddle of AC oil underneath the compressor on the ground. All this leads me to think the compressor simply wasn't working correctly and then finally let go.

Bummer. Well at least you (probably) found the problem.

 

[76Nick]

Bummer. Well at least you (probably) found the problem.

It is what it is... I have so much money in this truck now between fixing it up and aftermarket stuff I will probably keep it going forever or until the wheels fall off.... actually even then I would probably just fix it

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

It is what it is... I have so much money in this truck now between fixing it up and aftermarket stuff I will probably keep it going forever or until the wheels fall off.... actually even then I would probably just fix it

That's the only way to do it IMO. It's a labor a love.
I got upset when I decided I had to tow my suburban to the junk yard after breaking a bleeder screw...then I called my old man and he said, just replace the wheel cylinder, dude!
We all have our moments.

 

[76Nick]

That's the only way to do it IMO. It's a labor a love.
I got upset when I decided I had to tow my suburban to the junk yard after breaking a bleeder screw...then I called my old man and he said, just replace the wheel cylinder, dude!
We all have our moments.

Yeah the way I look at it is I would never get anywhere close to what I feel its worth to me after the amount of money and time I put into it so why bother getting rid of it?

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

Yeah the way I look at it is I would never get anywhere close to what I feel its worth to me after the amount of money and time I put into it so why bother getting rid of it?

Def not. Everyone wants a deal...nice rig btw.

 

[76Nick]

Def not. Everyone wants a deal...nice rig btw.

Yeah they do.. Not to mention I bought it right after covid when used car prices were insanely inflated so I paid a lot for it as it was. Thank you!

 

[TJ Baker]

one....however when I went out to my truck a bit ago and turned on the AC I heard a loud noise so I instantly turned it off and right afterwards I could smell the freon outside of the truck and now there is a big puddle of AC oil underneath the compressor on the ground

The AC wasn't jumped out at the relay was it? If yes then the loud noise could have been an overpressure relief valve letting go. That's one of many reasons to not run your AC with the relay jumped/bypassed.

 

[Meathead16]

I can't remember all the specifics but I remember seeing a TSB about the AC system getting sludged up inside and then locking up the compressor, which in turn could snap the belt, overtravel the tensioner and then possibly breaking the tranny cooler lines.. sounds excessive compared to what you described but could be the start of it? I can't remember what caused it but I'll try and find it.

 

[Meathead16]

Found it. Doesn't sound like it's what it is but I'll attach it for your viewing pleasure. Since it.works when manually jumping it you know mechanically it's sound and the power from the relay on is good. Either the wiring upstream of the relay is bad, or your computer is keeping it off. What are your pressures?

 

[Doubeleive]

Found it. Doesn't sound like it's what it is but I'll attach it for your viewing pleasure. Since it.works when manually jumping it you know mechanically it's sound and the power from the relay on is good. Either the wiring upstream of the relay is bad, or your computer is keeping it off. What are your pressures?

read up, the pump blew it's brains out

 

[catfishcrook]

Did you 0411 swap it? I had the exact same problem when i had a 1998 and 0411 swapped it. Had a ground and compressor wire wrong if i remember right.

This swap you speak of on compressor, are you speaking about the wires coming out from clutch green an black , as I had power on green wire when disconnected. So reverse connection ?