OEM 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 A/C Clutch

2001 Dodge Ram 3500 A/C Clutch Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Service and Repair an A/C Clutch on 2001 Dodge Ram 3500?

  A: Start by disconnecting the battery's negative cable and next unplug the connector on the compressor clutch coil wire harness. Attach Special Tool 6462 to Kit 6460, then insert the spanner wrench pins into the clutch plate holes and keep it still as you remove the hex nut. After that, take out the front housing snap ring using snap ring pliers. Put the lip of the rotor puller into the snap ring area and then slide on the shaft protector. Put the puller through-bolts through the puller flange and into the jaws of the rotor puller and use Special Tool C-6461 to tighten them from the top. Twist the center bolt on the puller clockwise until the rotor pulley can be removed. After removing the screw and retainer on the clutch coil lead wire harness from the compressor front housing, carefully unfasten the snap ring at the compressor hub and pull off the clutch field coil. When installing, first fit the clutch field coil and snap ring, then clip the clutch coil lead wire retaining clip onto the compressor front housing and attach the screw. Place the rotor assembly front-first against the front compressor housing hub, insert the handle (Special Tool 6464 from Kit 6460) into the driver (Special Tool 6143 from Kit 6460) and set the driver tool assembly into the bearing cavity on the rotor with its outer edge fully resting on the bearing inner race. Guide the rotor and, when the driver almost reaches its end, tap it gently to ensure there is no binding as the rotor bottoms against the hub. Line the clutch bevel side with the rotor groove and then use your pliers to install the front rotor snap ring to avoid failure. Insert the original clutch shims on the compressor shaft, then install the compressor shaft hex nut, tighten it to 14.4 Nm (10.5 ft. lbs.). Measure the air gap at the clutch using a feeler gauge, fitting necessary shims so that it is between 0.41 and 0.79 millimeters (0.016 and 0.031 inches). If the fit is not exact, raise the affected items slightly at places where they are low and put them back down when they are too high. Use the shims in the hardware package for the clutch whenever you replace or install a new clutch. Afterwards, connect the negative battery cable to its terminal.