1996 FLD120 Detriot 60 14l
Ok so a few weeks I started to fix my AC. Had to cap off the sleeper due to an AC line getting a hole in it and not being able to remove the line.
Looked up the freon amount I should need to fill without the sleeper. Filled it, and the AC works, blows cold, no issues. (At this point thought the AC hadn't actually worked for maybe 5 months)
2 days later the clutch failed. No big deal, it was old and needed replaced.
Today the actual pulley seized up due to a complete bearing failure. It completely fell apart. Again, its old.
So I finally replaced the clutch today, it was a newer single wire vs 2 wire clutch style.
Got it replaced, now there is no power going to the AC clutch. I did jump it to make sure the clutch works, and it does, just no power to the clutch.
So now what do I look for?
96 FLD120 AC issues
Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by irishluck09, Jul 17, 2026.
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You need the 2 wire clutch. 1 wire is nothing new.
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The 2 wire is just a hot and a ground. the 2nd wire off the old clutch just grounds to a bolt. The new clutch has a bare wire soldered inside of the clutch that grounds to the frame of the clutch
The problem Im having is there is no 12v+ coming out of the hot wire from the truck side. -
Check all the breakers first, don't just check the one for HVAC.
If those are all good, look for 12v at the low pressure switch. If you've got it there, verify you have adequate pressure in the system. If you do, jump it and see if the clutch engages.
If it does, replace the low pressure switch.
If you don't have 12v at the low pressure switch, go back to the thermostat in the evaporator and look for 12v there.Rideandrepair, JB7 and wore out Thank this. -
It’s been a while, but I think the power source on mine was a constant hot wire from the starter. The ground wire controls on/off via dash switch.
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I did already jump the clutch, and it does work. even just swapped the compressor out too. Its charged, compressor won't engage. No power to it.
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Okay the low pressure switch Im assuming has the 2 spades on the back, not the one with the 2 yellow wires coming out of it.
I checked the breaker or power distribution panel and it has power there. Ive got 24oz of freon in the system, and it won't take more because the compressor wont engage. The compressor is brand new, Clutch is brand new. It is grounded. No power going to the single wire on the power side of the clutch. Jumped the clutch and it works. No leaks anywhere. Vacuumed it last night, sat overnight, holds vac. Checked voltage at the, assumed, low pressure switch. On front of the dryer with 2 spades coming off of it. Has 12v going into one side. Nothing coming out the other side.
Low pressure switch crapped out assuming. -
Hot wire that clutch with your freon can on it and open so it will pull in what's in the can.
The small cans can't always put enough freon in to close the low pressure switch.
Use the hot wire trick to get another can in, then see if it'll run on its own. Then finish filling as normal from there. -
Well I only need 3 cans In this one to work total. 36oz. I had to close off the sleeper AC lines of the truck because it has a hole in it and cant pull it off to repair it.
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What about the original ground in the harness? Did you ground it?
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