I have a 2002 Dodge Diesel dually (The last of the good years)with the 6 speed manual trans and 4 wheel drive.

Has anyone had a problem with the lower pressure switch for the a/c? I think mine is bad or the wires are being pinched because they are tight againt the top of the fire wall. Has anyone experienced this problem with the wires being pinched? Does anyone know the secret to getting the switch off or do you have to remove the drier to remove the switch? I just can imagine why it would be pushed so far up against the firewall. Any help with this problem would be appreciated.

The pressure on the low side is running at 45 so im sure the pressure is ok in the system but the clutch wont kick on til I play with the low pressure switch so im not sure if this is a common problem with the wires being pinched or if the switch itself is bad or if for some reason my drier got pushed up into the bottom of the firewall the way im looking at it there is no room to pull the plug off of the switch which means i cant replace the switch without pulling the drier unless someone knows a trick to it? ANY HELP WITH THIS WOULD BE GREAT!!!! Thanks

 

Wow not one response I guess I stumped all of you super mechanics but no worries I figured it out....I am just really surprised I stumped all the so called pros

 

Ok I'll bite. There is no reason for it to be pushed up that far unless it was in an accident or someone had the engine out and caught the ac plumbing on the way up. What I would do is take the plug off the sw and short the two terminals together, if when you wiggle it the compressor still cuts in and out cut the plug off and then short the wires together. If the A/C runs normal you can do one of two things. extend the wires and crimp new terminals on the end or you can take a chance and reef on the AC lines and try to get them back into position. I personally would not do the latter unless absolutely necessary as you could break the evaporator fittings.

 

I've worked on many of those, and don't understand why the firewall would be interfering with that switch. There should be plenty of room there. I think somebody may have bent up that accumulator pretty badly, but if you try to bend it back you may end up cracking the evaporator tubes. That switch (or its connection) definitely sounds like your problem, but you may end up replacing the accumulator too to get the clearance back.

 

What does the high side read? What does the low side read when the compressor does run? I will just about bet its goes to zip or even a vacuum and cuts out. Sounds like its low on freon.