Dodge Durango

 Service Manual

Heating and Air Conditioning » Removal and installation
Compressor clutch

The refrigerant system can remain fully-charged during compressor clutch, pulley, or coil replacement.

The compressor clutch can be serviced in the vehicle.

REMOVAL

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.

(2) Remove the serpentine drive belt. Refer to Group 7 - Cooling System for the procedures.

(3) Unplug the compressor clutch coil wire harness connector.

(4) Insert the two pins of the spanner wrench (Special Tool 6462 in Kit 6460) into the holes of the clutch plate. Hold the clutch plate stationary and remove the hex nut (Fig. 26).

(5) Remove the clutch plate and the clutch shims.

(6) Remove the external front housing snap ring with snap ring pliers (Fig. 27).

(7) Install the lip of the rotor puller (Special Tool C-6141-1 in Kit 6460) into the snap ring groove exposed in Step 6, and install the shaft protector (Special Tool C-6141-2 in Kit 6460) (Fig. 28).

(8) Install the puller through-bolts (Special Tool C-6461) through the puller flange and into the jaws of the rotor puller and tighten (Fig. 29). Turn the puller center bolt clockwise until the rotor pulley is free.

(9) Remove the screw and retainer from the clutch coil lead wire harness on the compressor front housing (Fig. 30).

(10) Remove the snap ring from the compressor hub and remove the clutch field coil (Fig. 31). Slide the clutch field coil off of the compressor hub.

Fig. 26 Clutch Nut Remove

1 - FRONT PLATE SPANNER

Fig. 27 External Snap Ring Remove

1 - EXTERNAL SNAP RING

Fig. 28 Shaft Protector and Puller

1 - PULLER SHAFT PROTECTOR

2 - JAWS

Fig. 29 Install Puller Plate

1 - BOLT

2 - PULLER PLATE AND BOLT

3 - BOLT

4 - JAWS

INSPECTION

Examine the friction surfaces of the clutch pulley and the front plate for wear. The pulley and front plate should be replaced if there is excessive wear or scoring.

If the friction surfaces are oily, inspect the shaft and nose area of the compressor for oil. Remove the felt from the front cover. If the felt is saturated with oil, the shaft seal is leaking and the compressor must be replaced.

Fig. 30 Clutch Coil Lead Wire Harness

1 - CLIP

Fig. 31 Clutch Field Coil Snap Ring Remove

1 - FIELD COIL

2 - SNAP RING

Check the clutch pulley bearing for roughness or excessive leakage of grease. Replace the bearing, if required.

INSTALLATION

(1) Install the clutch field coil and snap ring.

(2) Install the clutch coil lead wire harness retaining clip on the compressor front housing and tighten the retaining screw.

(3) Align the rotor assembly squarely on the front compressor housing hub.

(4) Thread the handle (Special Tool 6464 in Kit 6460) into the driver (Special Tool 6143 in Kit 6460) (Fig. 32).

Fig. 32 Rotor Installer Set

(5) Place the driver tool assembly into the bearing cavity on the rotor. Make certain the outer edge of the tool rests firmly on the rotor bearing inner race (Fig. 33).

(6) Tap the end of the driver while guiding the rotor to prevent binding. Tap until the rotor bottoms against the compressor front housing hub. Listen for a distinct change of sound during the tapping process, to indicate the bottoming of the rotor.

(7) Install the external front rotor snap ring with snap ring pliers. The bevel side of the snap ring must be facing outward. Press the snap ring to make sure it is properly seated in the groove.

CAUTION: If the snap ring is not fully seated in the groove it will vibrate out, resulting in a clutch failure and severe damage to the front housing of the compressor.

Fig. 33 Rotor Install

(8) Install the original clutch shims on the compressor shaft.

(9) Install the clutch plate. Use the shaft protector (Special Tool 6141-2 in Kit 6460) to install the clutch plate on the compressor shaft (Fig. 34). Tap the clutch plate over the compressor shaft until it has bottomed against the clutch shims. Listen for a distinct change of sound during the tapping process, to indicate the bottoming of the clutch plate.

Fig. 34 Clutch Plate Install

(10) Replace the compressor shaft hex nut. Tighten the nut to 14.4 N*m (10.5 ft. lbs.).

(11) Check the clutch air gap with a feeler gauge (Fig. 35). If the air gap does not meet the specifica-tion, add or subtract shims as required. The air gap specification is 0.41 to 0.79 millimeter (0.016 to 0.031 inch). If the air gap is not consistent around the circumference of the clutch, lightly pry up at the minimum variations. Lightly tap down at the points of maximum variation.

NOTE: The air gap is determined by the spacer shims. When installing an original, or a new clutch assembly, try the original shims first. When installing a new clutch onto a compressor that previously did not have a clutch, use 1.0, 0.50, and 0.13 millimeter (0.040, 0.020, and 0.005 inch) shims from the clutch hardware package that is provided with the new clutch.

Fig. 35 Check Clutch Air Gap

1 - FEELER GAUGE

(12) Reverse the remaining removal procedures to complete the installation.

CLUTCH BREAK-IN

After a new compressor clutch has been installed, cycle the compressor clutch approximately twenty times (five seconds on, then five seconds off). During this procedure, set the heater-A/C control to the recirculation mode (Max-A/C), the blower motor switch to the highest speed position, and the engine speed at 1500 to 2000 rpm. This procedure (burnishing) will seat the opposing friction surfaces and provide a higher compressor clutch torque capability.

Service warnings and precautions

B-pillar refrigerant line

Blower motor

Blower motor relay

Blower motor resistor

Compressor

Compressor clutch

Compressor clutch relay

Condenser

Ducts and outlets

Electronic cycling clutch switch

Evaporator coil

Expansion valve

Filter-drier

Heater-a/c control

Heater-a/c housing

Heater-a/c housing door

Heater core

High pressure cut-off switch

Liquid line

Low pressure cut-off switch

Mode door vacuum actuator

Rear blower motor switch

Rear overhead a/c unit

Refrigerant line coupler

Suction and discharge line

Suction line jumper

Temperature control cable

Underbody refrigerant line

Vacuum check valve

Vacuum reservoir