The A/C in my 94 Ranger XLT, 2wd 2.3L, has stopped working, no signs of issues prior to it stopping. Turn the air on and blower works but no cold air. This is what I have done in trouble shooting so far. The compressor clutch spins freely by hand. The R134 level is good. I checked the plug at the compressor which checked good, power to the plug. Jumped the prongs where the plug goes into the compressor, one jumper from 12v to positive prong negative prong to ground. Clutch will not engage. Checked plug on A/C cycle switch at accumulator, had power. When I jumped the plug the compressor clutch would engage. So I replaced the switch. With A/C set to max clutch would cycle on and off. Then not engage at all. At a loss now. Double checked jumping the plug, disconnected from switch and clutch would fully engage. Any ideas or suggestions

 

I tried the usual remedies/troubleshooting for the same problem, and what worked for me is when I checked the orifice tube (evacuated the system of refrigerant first) near the collector.

It was gummed up.

I stuck a rag on a thin screwdriver and cleaned out where the orifice tube goes as best I could, replaced with a new, 5-buck part, pressure tested (well, vacuum anyway) and recharged the system.

Boom. Working A/C.

This is the little bugger:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...fice+tube,6936

If it helps, cool. If it doesn't, I hope someone else has a suggestion.

 

you're jumping a low pressure switch. The reason it won't work is your refrigerant level is too low for the system to safely operate. You are bypassing a safety. Don't do that. You either have a restriction in your system or you have a low refrigerant charge. The only way to tell from here is by you putting some gauges on both the high and low side ports and telling me what you are getting when the unit first comes on. Also, if you have to jumper the pressure switch to make it run during the test, go for it. But don't do it too long, the compressor is lubricated by the oil in the refrigerant, which is nonexistent if i had to guess.