Alright so I have a 5-spd 96 Civic Dx and the a/c currently doesn't want to run. More specifically the compressor clutch doesn't want to engage. Here's what I've noticed since I got it:

-I usually turn the a/c on just to have a little breeze while I'm driving. One day I was driving hwy and the legendary screech of the serpentine belt decided to let itself be heard. While I was hearing the serpentine belt I noticed the air actually started blowing cold. Turns out it likes the blow cold when I'm anywhere between 3rd or 4th (in the higher rpm range) but it doesn't ALWAYS blow cold in these gears and it doesn't stay blowing cold air for long either. Literally seems to come on at the randomest times honestly.

-I also want to note that the very first day I got the car I tried charging the a/c since I thought that was all It needed. The low pressure port didn't accept any Freon at all (figures since the clutch wasn't spinning).


-I was told that if you gently nudge the clutch while the a/c is on max, it'll engage and the system will blow cold air again. This method worked, however the clutch doesn't stay engaged. It'll keep the air cold for like 2-3min max after I start driving and then it'll blow regular air again. I read that if you put a washer behind the clutch it would fix my issue but I need more opinions and advice. Also, I decided to test and see if the system would take Freon after I got the clutch to spin manually and I put a gauge to the low port side. The gauge read that it was full. Not full full but full.

Is there a fix for this? Is the compressor just junk and I should replace it? Any help I could get on this would be greatly appreciated. FL weather is unforgiving and I'm getting desperate at this point. Thanks

 

Measure the air gap between the pulley and armature plate. If it's too wide, you need to reshim the clutch.