Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: Toyota Sienna 2004 A/C, toyota sienna 2004, fuse box

Question
At nearly 50.000 miles the A/C started shutting off intermittently, after a few months it got worse and would quit after the engine warmed up. Now at 60,000 miles it turns on for just a few minutes when the van is first started. I removed the belt and the turned the compressor it felt smooth with resistance building as I turned, like it was pumping normally. I had it checked by a repair shop and the freon level was fine, they evacuated it and recharged it but could not find the problem. I took it to a Toyota dealer and they could not find the problem, they said they jumped the clutch solenoid but the compressor would not turn on, they concluded it needed a new compressor. That's hard to believe considering the compressor will still work intermittently, I would think the clutch could have failed or whatever activates it. This is my first Toyota, I thought they were supposed to be reliable, I am very disappointed with this vehicle. Could it be something other than the compressor has failed?

Answer
Hi Brad

Your compressor is just fine the problem is at the clutch coil.  You can get the coil by itself at the dealer most of the time.  This vehicle tends to have this problem. Also check your relay at the fuse box they tend to do this but usually they will quit altogether.