Can't get clutch to engage on air contioner.

You most likely need a new ac compressor

Hi Adeyeri

Keep in mind that the Clutch won't engage for a few safety reasons.

Temperature inside vehicle
Temperature of compressor or pipes
Pressure inside pipes
Compressor jambed
Eg It's out of refrigerant Gas

You can momentarily engage the clutch by simply giving it +12v to the wire attached to clutch. Usually has a connector close by.
Or
If it has a Relay (click) in fuse box
You can by pass it with a jumper

A quick engage & disengage should allow you to detect possible problem.
But don't over ride the built in safety for more than about a minute.

Cheers
Hope this Helps

Vehicle Air Con testing YouTube

FIXED Car Compressor Clutch Won Engage

12 Volt Car Relays Used In Automotive Industry

The radiator fan should turn on when the a/c clutch engages as this is designed to increase the cooling of the engine as the a/c increases the engine loading. But the compressor clutch should stay engaged as long as there is need for cooling, and disengage/re-engage as the temperature control calls for cool air. The radiator fan will shut off IF the engine temperature is cool enough to do so, as it is regulated by heat, as well as the A/c override.

If your air conditioning is not cooling the car and the clutch is simply disengaging prematurely, have the temperature control and relay checked for proper operation. Also have the refrigerant level checked to assure there is adequate refrigerant in the system and no leaks. My first bet would be the relay or the thermostatic temperature control under the dash.

1. Check if air blows with the fan setting turned to high.
2. Check that the radiator cooling fan engages when the A/C button is pressed.
3. Locate the compressor.
4. Turn on the A/C.
5. Check if the compressor's clutch has been engaged.
6. If the clutch engages, the fault is elsewhere.
7. If the clutch does not engage, check for power to the clutch.

These steps might help find the problem.

The pulley on the compressor is always running when your engine is running, but the only time
it compresses the freon is when the clutch engages, if the compressor's pulley was not turning,
it would have already snapped a fan belt or your serpentine belt. voltage runs from your fuse box
thru your air condition switch on your dashboard to a low pressure switch that is located at the
accumulator a long cylinder,close to the firewall under the hood or close to the condensor, front
of the car. the switch detects freon pressure in the accumulator, if there is freon pressure, the switch
will stay closed and allow voltage to go to the compressor clutch to engage it and compress the freon,
if there is no freon pressure the switch will open, and there will be no voltage to air compressor, its a
saftey switch to keep your compressor from getting damaged.its possible that the switch could be bad
it may not have voltage at the switch, or it may be open because there is insufficient freon pressure.
check and make sure there is freon in the system.check for voltage at the low pressure switch if you have freon in your system and voltage at the pressure switch, set your ac on high, pull the molex off
the switch, and jump it out with a jumper wire, if the clutch engages and your car starts to cool, just
replace the switch. if the clutch engages but does not cool, then your ac system has some blockage
in the lines. if the clutch does not engage at all then it would be the compressor clutch. good luck!

If you are handy, yes you can. Most likely causes are loss of freon which would prevent the compressor clutch from being engaged and operating the compressor, a lack of 12 volts being applied to the compressor clutch because the a/c compressor fuse or relay has failed, preventing the clutch from engaging the compressor, or the compressor clutch itself failing. Easy test is to watch the compressor pulley with the motor running. The pulley will, of course be spinning, but the circular assembly mounted to the front of the pulley will spin with the pulley only when the compressor is engaged. There is a sensor mounted to the a/c line that prevents the clutch from engaging the compressor if there in not enough freon in the system. You could go to auto zone or checker and buy a can of freon r-134 with a hose for around $15.00. It is fairly easy to follow the instructions to charge the system. If, after allowing some of the can to pressurize the system, the compressor clutch engages then you can continue to charge the system. Cold air should start to blow by the time the can is empty. Or you can locate the a/c relay located in the fuse panel, remove its plastic cover and manually close the contacts while observing the compressor pulley assembly. If the clutch doesn't engage then the problem in probably electrical, a fuse, the relay or the electric clutch itself. Go to auto zone and check you their dvd on a/c repair for under $9.00. Hope this helps! Dano

Sounds like the A/C Compressor Clutch isn't engaging. With the A/C turned on and the engine running, open the hood and see if the center of the A/C Compressor pulley is rotating. If it isn't, then that's why there isn't any cold air. Check all the fuses and relays then check to make sure that the A/C Compressor signal wire is getting 12V when the A/C is switched on. If the compressor clutch isn't engaging, the fuses and relays are good and the signal wire to the compressor is getting 12V then the A/C Compressor itself may need to be replaced. This is, of course, assuming your are certain that there is refrigerant in the system and it is at the correct pressure!

Your A/C system may have lost its charge of refrigerant, or the compressor may not be engaging when you turn on the A/C, or the blend air door inside the HVAC unit may be stuck in the HEAT position so no air goes through the A/C evaporator.
Start with the compressor. Does it engage when you turn on the A/C?
If so, the compressor is working and the A/C system probably contains enough refrigerant to make cold air, so the problem is inside the HVAC unit. Replace the motor that controls the blend air door (this is a difficult job and best left to a professional since it involves tearing apart the HVAC unit -- about an 8 to 10 hour job!).
If the compressor does not engage when you turn on the A/C, see if it will run by jumping the compressor clutch wire directly to the battery (use a fused jumper wire). If the compressor works when you jump it, and the A/C blows cold air, the system contains refrigerant and the fault is likely a bad A/C compressor clutch relay or a bad clutch cycling switch or pressure switch .
If the compressor does not engage when you jump it, the problem is a bad compressor clutch.
If the clutch engages but the compressor does not turn (the belt will start to slip and squeal), the compressor is loced up and you need a new compressor.
If the compressor clutch engages and turns the compressor, but the A/C still does not blow cold air, the system is probably low on refrigerant and needs to be recharged. If you Have an A/C gauge set, hook it up and see if the system has any pressure.
If it is out of refrigerant or is low, check for leaks, then have the A/C system vacuum purged to remove air. After the air is out, it can be recharged with the specified amount of refrigerant. It is important to get any air out as this will reduce cooling efficiency and may make the compressor noisy.
My advice to you if you know nothing about A/C service is to find a repair shop that specializes in A/C repairs and let them fix your cooling problem for you. Today's A/C systems with automatic climate control are very complex and reuire special tools and know-how to diagnose and repair.

Locate wires coming from compressor clutch and trace to nearest plug that you can unplug. Turn on A/C to max cooling. If clutch not engaged (center of compressor drive pulley not spinning with pulley), unplug compressor clutch wires and use multimeter to check voltage going to compressor clutch. If voltage is around 12 volts or more, then clutch should be engaged when plugged in. Plug clutch wires back in (with motor still running and ac set to max). If clutch still not engaged, then clutch definitely bad because 12V signal should engage it.

I would check the following possibilities:
1. Is compressor clutch working? - You need to do this when the ac is blowing hot air only - locate compressor drive pulley on engine - rubber belt wraps around it. Start engine and set to max ac. When the ac is blowing hot air, look at the center of the compressor drive pulley using a good flash light - watch it for a while, it should be spinning with the pulley - this means the compressor is engaged. If not, the compressor is not engaged. If your ac is blowing hot air, then the compressor should be engaged and running (trying to cool). If it is not engaged, then your compressor clutch is probably going out. Could be low voltage to clutch, but more likely the clutch is worn out and only working some of the time. Note: if working normally, the compressor clutch will engage and disengage in cycles- but the air should always be cold. If clutch is bad, compressor would need to be replaced (sold as one unit). This is tricky to diagnose and could take some time - you need to do it when ac is blowing hot air but set to max cooling.

2. Low on refrigerant or refrigerant has moisture in it? If your ac blows cold initially after being off for a while, then heats up, and continues to regularly cycle back and forth between hot and cool air, then the system may be low on refrigerant or the refrigerant may have moisture in it that is freezing and restricting refrigerant flow. An a/c shop can check refrigerant level and even replace refrigerant if moisture is suspected.

Could be other issues, but I would start with these.

Good luck