It was warm yesterday and I checked out the a/c.  It runs, gets cold, compressor cycles on and off like it should, then it cycles off and stays off.  Is this common and what should I look for.  Let it sit for a while and it will do it again.  I'm hoping it's not the high pressure switch as I'd rather not loose all the freon.  Might take it to a shop if that's what it needs.  I can search, but if anyone has a handy copy of the wiring pin out of that switch I'd love a copy.  Pulling the plug off and on for that switch will make the fast idle go on and off but the compressor doesn't run.

very common for older soobs to have o-rings go bad in the a/c system - particularly the 2 at the compressor. You may be on the 'cusp' of having lost enough that the low pressure switch is cutting the compressor off.

 

many people have done the work themselves, but a shop can recover the refrigerant, replace the o-rings, charge and test the system for you.  (check here if you decide to try DIY; http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/99-do-yourself-illustrated-guides/43428-diy-c-air-conditioning-leak-refrigerant-repair-5-less-15-minutes-less.html )

 

VERY unlikely there is any problem with your compressor or other 'major' part.

 

occasionally, a rock or something will put a pinhole in the condenser up front. Sometimes a hose goes bad.

Edited February 16, 20188 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

Runs when first started , then quits... A/C Clutch Clearance... covered many times here and other forums:

 

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f88/ac-runs-intermittently-04-forester-75562/#post848614

Ah yes two things I should have done.  First put a test light on the clutch power wire, well and then I wouldn't really have had to ask here, but if so I should have done a search.  Not to mention I had another car 20 years ago that had the same problem, but it wasn't this easy to fix.

 

Anyway it was the clutch and I have a 15 minute fix!  May look a little funny but seems to be working great.  And no I can't see these shims falling out.  Actually after this picture I bent the two ends over on each of the three so they can't slide out.  The metal I used was about .025" thick and very soft so I could bend it as I threaded it through.

 

 

clever!

 

I think some people have also replaced the clutch relay with good results.

If you remove the 10mm nut, the cover slides off and you can remove one of the spacer washers to accomplish the same thing with no modifications required. 

 

GD

If you remove the 10mm nut, the cover slides off and you can remove one of the spacer washers to accomplish the same thing with no modifications required. 

 

GD

Oh!!!  I thought I read that you need to pull the whole clutch with a special puller.  Maybe someday when I have nothing to do I'll do it right.  I did one on a F*rd once but don't remember how it came apart.