When the car AC clutch won't engage you turn on the air conditioning and patiently wait for cool air that never comes. You probably felt something a little different when you requested AC from the control panel. When the compressor kicks on you can usually hear a click and feel the engine struggle with the extra load.

Ford F-150 A/C Compressor and Clutch

Whether you're looking to build a new one from scratch or repair your Ford F-150 A/C system, the compressor is a necessary part. A faulty compressor means no cold air or far less cold air than you should get from your air conditioning. Fortunately, you can replace this part either by using a kit or with individual parts.

How do compressors work?

When you turn the A/C on in your truck, it signals the compressor clutch that it's time to compress freon gas. Compression uses high pressure to turn the gas into a liquid, making it hotter than the surrounding air. Then, this liquefied gas passes through the condenser, making it suddenly cold again. The quick shift from hot to cold via the condenser is what allows the freon to cool cabin air. Without a working compressor, air will still come in and go out of the air conditioner, but the temperature won't change.

How do you choose the right Ford F-150 part?

Depending on what is wrong with your Ford vehicle's A/C, you'll need to take two steps. First, you need figure out what part has broken, and second, you'll need find the right replacement for your F-150. Here are some of the part choices to keep in mind.

• Compressor kits: A complete kit includes everything you need. In general, a kit includes a clutch and other assembly pieces, like screws.
• Compressor: If the compressor itself fails, you will generally need to replace this F-150 part as a unit.
• Compressor clutch: You'll find the clutch as a series of interlocking circles at the top of the air conditioning system. These circles take energy from the engine and use it to power the compressor. Without a working clutch, gas won't be compressed, and air won't get cool. The clutch consists of several parts, and they can be replaced as a unit or individually. If you separate the clutch, you can pull these pieces apart and see what's broken.
• Clutch parts: The clutch pulley is a palm-sized part that provides central friction. Various rings and bearings connect the pulley to the rest of the clutch. If any of these bearings are broken, the pulley may spin but it will not accomplish much. The clutch rotor, a metallic spinning plate, powers compression. The armature attaches to the rotor. If either of these two circles are broken or not connecting, the unit won't spin correctly. Screws at the top and bottom hold the unit in place, ensuring contact with the truck and the compressor.
• Search by Ford build: Compressors and clutch units have standard sized parts that will work in multiple Ford builds. However, these standard sizes vary across some Ford truck years and trim styles. Always search for parts by the year, make, model, and trim level of your vehicle.