Air Conditioning Compressor
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical connector |
| 2 | Outlet port |
| 3 | Inlet port |
| 4 | Electrical connector |
| 5 | Pulley |
The Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor is driven by the engine primary drive belt. The compressor circulates refrigerant around the A/C system by compressing low-pressure, low-temperature vapor from the evaporator and discharging the resultant high-pressure, high-temperature vapor to the condensor.
To protect the system from excessive pressure, a pressure relief valve is installed in the outlet side of the A/C compressor. The pressure relief valve vents excess pressure into the engine compartment.
The compressor is a variable displacement unit. Displacement is controlled by an integral electronic control valve operated by the HVAC control module (HVAC). The control valve measures the input and output pressures of the refrigerant entering and leaving the compressor and controls the angle of the internal swash plate accordingly. The HVAC influences the control to match the thermal load of the evaporator and other factors.
Compressor clutch engagement is controlled by the HVAC. For additional information, Refer to: CONTROL COMPONENTS