Honda Element AC Compressor Clutch
If youve ever had to wade through high humidity in the dog days of summer with your Honda Element, you probably know that air conditioning is an essential replacement to simply rolling your windows down. However, the AC is made up of multiple moving parts that work together to cool the air in your cabin including the compressor that chills the refrigerant, the pulley assembly that pushes everything through, and the compressor clutch to key everything on and off. You can find a selection of parts to replace or repair your AC components when they fail, so you can stay cool during the hottest months of the years.
Is the compressor clutch an essential AC part?The AC compressor clutch is responsible for toggling the compressor on and off during intervals when the refrigerant has been adequately pressurized, leaving the system cool enough to continually blow cold air without drawing additional power from the engine. This saves fuel by eliminating an unnecessary power draw from the engine by the AC compressor, which otherwise places additional pressure on the flywheel in order to run. Your Elements air conditioning is useless without the compressor clutch.
How should you maintain a clutch in the long run?Fortunately, caring for your new clutch is as simple as ensuring that you run the AC compressor for at least 10 minutes every month, including in winter. This prevents the coolant from losing its potency while keeping the various moving components from becoming stuck in place and improving the lifespan of your product.
How can you ensure that your new clutch is working?All you need to do is keep an ear out for the following signs that your newly installed AC clutch is doing fine:
- A subtle "thunk" or "click" when you first turn on the AC.
- Either no sound or just a gentle humming while the AC is working.
- Every 10 minutes or so, the "thunk" or "click" recurs to engage or disengage the compressor.
- The air is cold, but not frigid.
If it fails to activate, its probable that none of the parts in your AC assembly will be affected. However, if the clutch fails to turn off when its supposed to, this can place additional pressure on all of the accessories in the system, resulting in weakened seals, coolant leaks, loosened pulleys, and more. If you arent noticing the distinctive shifting noise or the sensation of the AC compressor clutch engaging in your engine, it may need to be replaced.