I have taken my XV to the mechanic 3x about my intermittent A/C, and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. I checked the air gap, and sure enough, the clutch was too far out. I just took it off and removed a shim myself and now the gap is in the appropriate range. Thank you for showing how easy it is to adjust.
Very neat job, nice clear uncluttered explanation too. How many folks pay to change the whole compressor when this is all that needs to be done! Thank you!
Just about any time there is an issue with air conditioning the first thing most people do is add refrigerant or think the compressor is defective. A lot of times it’s something much simpler. Thanks for the comment!
It was just as easy as the video purports! If you have a reasonably powerful impact drill, you can pop the first bolt off without having to secure the outer clutch plate. For getting the shims out, I was able to use my two smallest Allan/hex wrenches to get behind them and pop them out. The thin one was on the outside for me, but that might not be universal.
Well hello all the way from good old Virginia! I sure am glad I'm not the only person having this issue, I don't even use my AC that much. Where did you get the part from? I was told I would have to get the whole compressor,. 🤦♂️
What's the ring of material on the pulley that looks kind of like cork? The middle ring, on the face, where the clutch plate goes? I did this job maybe 11 months ago and AC was great, but then clutch plate itself broke and got off-center and ground up the surface of the replacement pulley. I ordered a whole new setup and installed it today, and noticed on the new pulley it's got that brownish cork-looking ring, but the old pulley that was on the car did not - it had completely vanished. Not sure if it got rubbed off or what, but that was just like an "empty" ring now that you could see through. Anyway, I installed the new magnet coil thing, new pulley, got the new plate on there. Pulley spun without noise or anything, AC comes on and blows cold, clutch plate engages and disengages perfectly. But there IS a slight noise when the clutch is engaged. Not a grinding sound really, and not a whining sound either. Hard to describe. I took the clutch plate off and looked at its surface and it didn't seem damaged at all. On the pulley, that cork-looking ring no longer looked pristine, but it didn't look "bad" really either. It seemed like when I installed the pulley on the magnet coil, I could push the pulley "in" too far, to the point where the pulley didn't spin freely all the time. You'd get a rotation that felt fine and then it felt like it would hang up a little for like 1/2 a turn, and then spin freely again. If I pulled the pulley "out" a fraction, to the point where it looked in-line with the other pulleys, it spun freely all the time again. So that's where I left it, installed the belt, etc. I've got all the shims installed - I had 3 thin ones - and the clutch plate does not stick to the pulley when the AC is off, so that seems good. But I wonder what that sound is when the AC is on. And I have no idea what that cork-looking ring on the pulley is. Any insight from anyone? The AC clutch is only like $55 shipped so it was worth it to me to try this whole install again a second time since I got almost a year of great AC out of the last one...it beats the $1,200 bill for a new compressor and everything...but man I hope this one just continues to work. I'm in NC and it's HOT!
Does this replace the compressor bearing? I don't use my AC here up north, but now it squeaks and I suspect a bad bearing. Don't even want an AC but I need the pulley for the belt.
@@danielchan5944 I suppose as long as whatever I use has the same belt tension. I think in this case the routing wouldn't really allow it. I've since done the repair in this video and it wasn't too hard to do.
Nicely done. Though this clutch (plate, pulley +) was needed due to overall a/c clutch wear I wonder if this the fix for what sounds like (compressor) bearing wear on my 2013 Impreza. (And similar to pulley bearing wear my 2001 Land Rover Discovery many years ago, replaced by the dealer under warranty). I'm obviously very loathe to replace the compressor when there's good potential for the pulley bearing to be the culprit. Interested to know if you have a view on that.
A couple things on noises from compressors. If you turn the air conditioner on with the engine operating and you hear a bearing noise it could be the compressor. If the noise goes away after turning the air conditioner off then it is definitely the compressor. If after turning the air conditioner off the noise keeps on grinding then it is in the clutch bearing because the compressor is no longer operating. I hope this all makes sense. If it doesn’t please let me know. Thanks for commenting!
@@lizardjump995 Very informative video. I'm curious if my issue is the ac clutch or compressor. The ac works just fine when the car is in motion, but idling or in park the ac is weak or non existent. Plus when the ac is on a very loud buzzing noise can be heard coming from what appears to be the clutch. The noise starts as soon as the ac comes on and stops right when the ac is turned off. Thoughts?
Sounds like a couple things going on there. First, when the A/C is cooling well going down the road and quits when stopped you need to check operation of the radiator/condenser fan. The condenser has to have air flow to keep the head pressure down and condense the refrigerant to be moved to the evaporator. If the fan is not operating there will be no air flow at idle and therefore cooling will diminish. Driving down the road there will be sufficient air flow to keep head pressure down. Could be a relay issue, fuse, switch or the fan motor itself. 2nd issue : when the compressor is noisy when the clutch is engaged and not when disengaged the compressor is the issue. You probably have excessive wear and the noise is all the parts just slapping each other when the clutch is engaged. Probably should think about replacing the compressor at some point before there is a catastrophic failure. On the flip side I’ve seen noises come from loose mounting bolts as well, but that’s not a real common issue. I hope all my ramblings help you figure some things out! Thanks for your comment!
@@lizardjump995 thanks for the info. While I don’t have a video of my car this video has a vehicle with the exact same sound in it. th-cam.com/video/xl46VQ9EeRo/w-d-xo.html I took it to the Subaru dealer and they want to charge $1400 to replace the compressor. So really trying to avoid that.
The bolt and washer will be in the middle of the clutch plate. The bolt has a 10MM head. I have seen where people remove the bolt and leave it out. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!
I see an assembly on Amazon but it doesn’t specify Crosstrek. I know other models share the same motor. Do you have a brand or a link to a known replacement?
Hello. Would the problem be solved by changing the magnetic disk only? or you have to change the disc + pulley? I have the same problem in my XV but it is Diesel and I cannot find the complete kit.
I would recommend replacing all of it as an assembly. Both the magnet and the clutch plate will have wear and wouldn’t last long if only part of it is replaced. Thanks for commenting!
Before installing the new pulley you can spray a small amount of PB Blaster or WD 40 on the hub and then slide the pulley back on to the compressor. It usually giros on fairly easily. If you have to tap on it use a rubber mallot or something similar. A metal hammer could damage the pulley. Hope this helps!
Is the a/c still working in this? I have a 2014 Crosstrek and I don’t want to replace the whole compressor. Also is there a size or number on the snap ring tool. I have to order one and want to make sure it will work
It still works perfectly. I have a snap ring tool kit that looks just like this one, www.amazon.com/Snap-Ring-Pliers/b?ie=UTF8&node=553326, that works just fine. Hope this information helps. Thanks for watching!
Just did this and when I turned on the car the clutch engaged without the ac being on and shortly after the car turned off steam came out of it and the green fluid leaked all over. Wondering if I did something wrong or if maybe I had a dud part. The kit I got gave me 3 shims so I used em, maybe I used too many?
@@LovingIntelligenceIsAll I ended up just replacing the whole unit. Was a bit of a headache working with vacuums and everything but it worked. Yeah it’s more expensive but it got done correctly
I'm a female without any natural mechanic talent, a friend was able to determine this is whats causing my AC to malfunction. I have an appt with AC repair mechanic, what can I say or be prepared with so I'm not taken advantage of? If you did this job, about how much would you charge?
Shouldn’t be cycling that quickly under normal conditions. If the system is slightly low on refrigerant it can cycle quicker due to lower pressure. The only correct way to check the refrigerant is to recover the system and the evacuate it. Recharge with the exact amount of refrigerant per manufacturer recommendations. Hope this info helps. Thanks for watching.
was the diameter of your new clutch assembly smaller than the old one that was larger? im about to do mine and got a part that was slightly smaller, but it technically still fits
If there was any difference in diameter it was only slight but I think it was the same. If the electrical connector is the same and mounts like the old one then it should be just fine. I’d go for it!
I’m not real sure. The closest dealer is at least 2 hours away from me. I would guess the total job will range $600-800. It is a relatively simple task to replace and parts on line are very reasonable. Thanks for watching!
www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-A-C-Compressor-CLUTCH-KIT-for-Subaru-Forester-Impreza-XV-Crosstrek-DKV10Z-/283325676860?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0 Check this part on eBay.
Sorry for the late reply but might take a small flat punch and tap on the snap ring to see if that loosens it. Can also spray some pb blaster to see if that helps.
I have taken my XV to the mechanic 3x about my intermittent A/C, and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with it.
I checked the air gap, and sure enough, the clutch was too far out. I just took it off and removed a shim myself and now the gap is in the appropriate range.
Thank you for showing how easy it is to adjust.
I am really glad to hear this helped! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Very neat job, nice clear uncluttered explanation too. How many folks pay to change the whole compressor when this is all that needs to be done! Thank you!
Just about any time there is an issue with air conditioning the first thing most people do is add refrigerant or think the compressor is defective. A lot of times it’s something much simpler. Thanks for the comment!
@@lizardjump995 Where do I buy the clunch because I bought it in the store and they only sell the complete compressor?
I purchased it on Amazon. Thanks for watching!
What is the part number on the clutch assembly and where did you purchase? Thanks!
It was just as easy as the video purports! If you have a reasonably powerful impact drill, you can pop the first bolt off without having to secure the outer clutch plate. For getting the shims out, I was able to use my two smallest Allan/hex wrenches to get behind them and pop them out. The thin one was on the outside for me, but that might not be universal.
Really nice to hear the job went well! Thanks for watching!
This fixed my AC. Thank you!
Really glad it helped! Thanks for commenting!
Felt like I was in an operating room, for the car. ✌️
James jroq Norton Just not remotely sterile!
Well hello all the way from good old Virginia! I sure am glad I'm not the only person having this issue, I don't even use my AC that much. Where did you get the part from? I was told I would have to get the whole compressor,. 🤦♂️
Thanks for the comment! I ordered off Ebay for $49.99. Was an exact fit for the original clutch.
What's the ring of material on the pulley that looks kind of like cork? The middle ring, on the face, where the clutch plate goes? I did this job maybe 11 months ago and AC was great, but then clutch plate itself broke and got off-center and ground up the surface of the replacement pulley. I ordered a whole new setup and installed it today, and noticed on the new pulley it's got that brownish cork-looking ring, but the old pulley that was on the car did not - it had completely vanished. Not sure if it got rubbed off or what, but that was just like an "empty" ring now that you could see through.
Anyway, I installed the new magnet coil thing, new pulley, got the new plate on there. Pulley spun without noise or anything, AC comes on and blows cold, clutch plate engages and disengages perfectly. But there IS a slight noise when the clutch is engaged. Not a grinding sound really, and not a whining sound either. Hard to describe. I took the clutch plate off and looked at its surface and it didn't seem damaged at all. On the pulley, that cork-looking ring no longer looked pristine, but it didn't look "bad" really either.
It seemed like when I installed the pulley on the magnet coil, I could push the pulley "in" too far, to the point where the pulley didn't spin freely all the time. You'd get a rotation that felt fine and then it felt like it would hang up a little for like 1/2 a turn, and then spin freely again. If I pulled the pulley "out" a fraction, to the point where it looked in-line with the other pulleys, it spun freely all the time again. So that's where I left it, installed the belt, etc.
I've got all the shims installed - I had 3 thin ones - and the clutch plate does not stick to the pulley when the AC is off, so that seems good. But I wonder what that sound is when the AC is on. And I have no idea what that cork-looking ring on the pulley is.
Any insight from anyone? The AC clutch is only like $55 shipped so it was worth it to me to try this whole install again a second time since I got almost a year of great AC out of the last one...it beats the $1,200 bill for a new compressor and everything...but man I hope this one just continues to work. I'm in NC and it's HOT!
Sorry nobody answered your questions… But yes I'm in North Carolina and it's HOT! I'm going to try removing the shim…
Does this replace the compressor bearing? I don't use my AC here up north, but now it squeaks and I suspect a bad bearing. Don't even want an AC but I need the pulley for the belt.
you can use a shorter serpentine/accessory belt and bypass the AC pulley
@@danielchan5944 I suppose as long as whatever I use has the same belt tension. I think in this case the routing wouldn't really allow it. I've since done the repair in this video and it wasn't too hard to do.
Thanks for this video! Saved me a ton of money, ordered my assembly from coldfusion.
Awesome to hear about saving money! I’m all about that! Thanks for commenting!
Do you think it would be easier to work on the clutch by unbolting the entire compressor from the engine and leaving the lines connected?
That is definitely an option but I prefer to leave it mounted so it’s secure and not moving around. Thanks for the comment.
Nicely done. Though this clutch (plate, pulley +) was needed due to overall a/c clutch wear I wonder if this the fix for what sounds like (compressor) bearing wear on my 2013 Impreza. (And similar to pulley bearing wear my 2001 Land Rover Discovery many years ago, replaced by the dealer under warranty). I'm obviously very loathe to replace the compressor when there's good potential for the pulley bearing to be the culprit. Interested to know if you have a view on that.
A couple things on noises from compressors. If you turn the air conditioner on with the engine operating and you hear a bearing noise it could be the compressor. If the noise goes away after turning the air conditioner off then it is definitely the compressor. If after turning the air conditioner off the noise keeps on grinding then it is in the clutch bearing because the compressor is no longer operating. I hope this all makes sense. If it doesn’t please let me know. Thanks for commenting!
@@lizardjump995 Makes complete sense :~). Thanks!
@@lizardjump995 Very informative video. I'm curious if my issue is the ac clutch or compressor. The ac works just fine when the car is in motion, but idling or in park the ac is weak or non existent. Plus when the ac is on a very loud buzzing noise can be heard coming from what appears to be the clutch. The noise starts as soon as the ac comes on and stops right when the ac is turned off. Thoughts?
Sounds like a couple things going on there. First, when the A/C is cooling well going down the road and quits when stopped you need to check operation of the radiator/condenser fan. The condenser has to have air flow to keep the head pressure down and condense the refrigerant to be moved to the evaporator. If the fan is not operating there will be no air flow at idle and therefore cooling will diminish. Driving down the road there will be sufficient air flow to keep head pressure down. Could be a relay issue, fuse, switch or the fan motor itself.
2nd issue : when the compressor is noisy when the clutch is engaged and not when disengaged the compressor is the issue. You probably have excessive wear and the noise is all the parts just slapping each other when the clutch is engaged. Probably should think about replacing the compressor at some point before there is a catastrophic failure. On the flip side I’ve seen noises come from loose mounting bolts as well, but that’s not a real common issue. I hope all my ramblings help you figure some things out! Thanks for your comment!
@@lizardjump995 thanks for the info. While I don’t have a video of my car this video has a vehicle with the exact same sound in it.
th-cam.com/video/xl46VQ9EeRo/w-d-xo.html
I took it to the Subaru dealer and they want to charge $1400 to replace the compressor. So really trying to avoid that.
Hi. what size is the bolt washer. I think mine doesn't have one when I opened it
The bolt and washer will be in the middle of the clutch plate. The bolt has a 10MM head. I have seen where people remove the bolt and leave it out. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Thanks
what is the cause when the compressor clutch has no air gap whether the motor is both on or off?
I see an assembly on Amazon but it doesn’t specify Crosstrek. I know other models share the same motor. Do you have a brand or a link to a known replacement?
www.ebay.com/itm/264244039550
This is the one I purchased off EBay. Was an exact fit.
Hello.
Would the problem be solved by changing the magnetic disk only? or you have to change the disc + pulley?
I have the same problem in my XV but it is Diesel and I cannot find the complete kit.
I would recommend replacing all of it as an assembly. Both the magnet and the clutch plate will have wear and wouldn’t last long if only part of it is replaced. Thanks for commenting!
How did you install the new pulley? It looks like removing the old one was a tight fit to the compressor.
Before installing the new pulley you can spray a small amount of PB Blaster or WD 40 on the hub and then slide the pulley back on to the compressor. It usually giros on fairly easily. If you have to tap on it use a rubber mallot or something similar. A metal hammer could damage the pulley. Hope this helps!
Have this issue and like everyone else where did ya get the kit??..thanks for any help sir.
Sorry so late to reply. I purchase off Amazon. Hope this helps!
Is the a/c still working in this? I have a 2014 Crosstrek and I don’t want to replace the whole compressor. Also is there a size or number on the snap ring tool. I have to order one and want to make sure it will work
It still works perfectly. I have a snap ring tool kit that looks just like this one, www.amazon.com/Snap-Ring-Pliers/b?ie=UTF8&node=553326, that works just fine. Hope this information helps. Thanks for watching!
Just did this and when I turned on the car the clutch engaged without the ac being on and shortly after the car turned off steam came out of it and the green fluid leaked all over. Wondering if I did something wrong or if maybe I had a dud part. The kit I got gave me 3 shims so I used em, maybe I used too many?
Oh shoot! No answer…
@@LovingIntelligenceIsAll I ended up just replacing the whole unit. Was a bit of a headache working with vacuums and everything but it worked. Yeah it’s more expensive but it got done correctly
I'm a female without any natural mechanic talent, a friend was able to determine this is whats causing my AC to malfunction. I have an appt with AC repair mechanic, what can I say or be prepared with so I'm not taken advantage of? If you did this job, about how much would you charge?
How often does your compressor cycle? My 2019 Impreza is cycling every 10-12 seconds
Shouldn’t be cycling that quickly under normal conditions. If the system is slightly low on refrigerant it can cycle quicker due to lower pressure. The only correct way to check the refrigerant is to recover the system and the evacuate it. Recharge with the exact amount of refrigerant per manufacturer recommendations. Hope this info helps. Thanks for watching.
was the diameter of your new clutch assembly smaller than the old one that was larger? im about to do mine and got a part that was slightly smaller, but it technically still fits
If there was any difference in diameter it was only slight but I think it was the same. If the electrical connector is the same and mounts like the old one then it should be just fine. I’d go for it!
What is the cost of a compressor clutch replacement at a dealership?
I’m not real sure. The closest dealer is at least 2 hours away from me. I would guess the total job will range $600-800. It is a relatively simple task to replace and parts on line are very reasonable. Thanks for watching!
How do you get the bolt out of the compressor clutch when it just spins
A big pair of channel lock pliers will hold the clutch steady when removing the bolt.
Did anyone come up with the part number for 2014 xtrek ... I cannot seem to find
www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-A-C-Compressor-CLUTCH-KIT-for-Subaru-Forester-Impreza-XV-Crosstrek-DKV10Z-/283325676860?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
Check this part on eBay.
Mechanic was asking $1500 to replace this 🤨
Wish I could do these all day long for $1500! Thanks for the comment!
any advice for getting the first snap ring off? Mine won't budge, the pins of the pliers just pop out when I put force on to it.
Sorry for the late reply but might take a small flat punch and tap on the snap ring to see if that loosens it. Can also spray some pb blaster to see if that helps.