Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Compressor Clutch Relay: Description and Operation

A/C COMPRESSOR CONTROL RELAY
The A/C Compressor Control Relay is designed to disengage the A/C compressor clutch during full throttle acceleration and momentarily during engine start-up on a warm motor. The relay is ECM controlled. Voltage is supplied from the A/C power feed circuit and the ECM completes the ground to close a Set of normally opened points. This turns the compressor clutch ON. The ECM opens the ground circuit when a high TPS voltage (wide open throttle) is sensed or an engine run signal is sensed with coolant temperature approximately 121°C (250°F).

On a warm engine start-up, a time delay of about 3 seconds allows the engine speed to stabilize before the compressor engages.