PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
Can you turn your car’s AC compressor by hand?
My air conditioning stopped working yesterday. I’m trying to diagnose the issue myself and was told to try rotating the AC compressor. It’s not budging, though. Can you turn your car’s AC compressor by hand though, or does the clutch being engaged affect that?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Ouch, we’re sorry your AC went out. We hope there’s moderate weather where you live until you’re able to get this resolved!
Yes, you should usually be able to rotate a car’s air conditioner compressor clutch by hand. It won’t spin around at the daintiest touch of a finger—you may need to put a modest amount of effort into it—but it should be spinning.
If the clutch is deadlocked and you’re trying to rotate it forcefully, it might be a sign, unfortunately, that the AC compressor or clutch are done for.
But don’t go yanking the compressor out just yet! Let’s go over the bases here and make sure you’re exhausting a few common issues before committing to more challenging and expensive projects.
Did you check the fuses? Did you look around the AC unit and underneath the car for refrigerant leaks? Even if you do have a blown clutch or a blown compressor,
an AC recharge
or replacing blown fuses should be your first step.If you do end up needing to replace the clutch or the compressor, keep in mind that it’s a good idea to replace both the clutch and the compressor at the same time. If one is shot, the other likely won’t operate properly for much longer. And it makes more sense to just replace them both now while you’re already in there taking stuff out.
It’s unfortunate you’re having these AC problems. But while we can’t help much with your car getting too warm, we can definitely help you prevent your
car insurance
bills from burning a hole through your wallet!Jerry
is America’s #1 top-rated insurance broker app, saving users an average of $887 per month on car insurance. You could be saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year simply by downloading one app and using it for a couple of minutes. Give it a try today and see how much you’ll save!View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies