07 PT Cruiser AC switch

[PreacherMan]

Here's a new one for ya. My AC went out. I took it to Firestone with one of those coupons for a 19.95 AC inspection. They check it and tell me it's not the AC. It's electrical. There's a bad switch. Evidently it's a common problem because nobody in the Charlotte, NC area seems to have one. Chrysler has 12000 of them on back order. They sent me to Radio Shack to try to get by with a general resistor. They found out the compressor is drawing too many amps, and shuts itself off again. Replacing the compressor/dryer through Firestone $1000.00 before tax. Replacing the switch (if they can find one) $42.00 for the part.

Questions:
If I go to a junk yard to find the switch what does it look like and how do I know if I've pulled a good one off? (Pictures are helpful)

Have other people on the forum had this problem and how did they fix it without paying and arm and both legs?

[CREWZIN]

I read every thread that is posted on this forum and yours is the first I've heard about a switch like that and the compressor drawing too many AMPS and shutting itself off. Can you find out the name of this switch please.

There's a switch on the compressor but it's for the pressure of the R134, same thing with a switch on the accumulator, also for pressure. Nothing to do with drawing too many AMPS.

[PreacherMan]

I just got off the phone with Firestone and they say it is a "low side pressure switch". Thanks for taking an interest in this post. Any help you can send my way would be really appreciated.

In His Peace,
Richard

[CREWZIN]

There's a little confusion on the Haynes and Chilton manuals as they both point to different switches for the "high pressure cutout switch" or maybe it's two pictures on a different angle of the same switch.





There's also a "Pressure cycling switch" on the accumulator.



No mention anywhere of the low pressure switch and also no talk of AMPS cutting out the compressor, only pressure.

[85_305]

Isn't it a big-deal, that low pressure switch? That switch on top of the ac canister as shown tends to go out quite often, I've heard of a lot of people on this forum replacing that switch.

[CREWZIN]

Along with the fan motor, power steering unit, front wheel bearings and control arm bushings. There's quite a bit of parts that usually don't last long on our beloved PT Cruisers.

[85_305]

LOL I can attest to the fan motor!!!!

[CREWZIN]

The fan motor and the power steering unit for me.

[85_305]

I hope to Christ my power steering dont go out on this. At least not before I sell it

[Travis2k7]

I knock on wood every day... about to hit 50k miles and hope I get another 50k of ice cold AC in this heat.

I bought this car because I enjoyed the one I rented on vacation a few years ago... only after I bought it and discovered these forums did I find out the car isn't very reliable for most people....

It has been for me, at least from 45k to 50k.

*knocks*