Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: A/C clutch wont come back on, dodge ram 1500, compressor clutch

Question
I'm working on a 2001 Dodge ram 1500 P/U 4x4 The system is full and blows cold but after running for about 10 mins. the clutch cuts off and won't come back on. sometimes you can turn it off then it will come back on in a few mins. I tried jumping the presure switch but it doesn't work. Any ideas?   Thanks, Dave

Answer
Dave,
With a 2001 Dodge Ram there are several things that may cause this.
Everything from your Engine coolant thermostat being faulty to your compressor clutch coil going bad to your PCM having an issue.
Do you by any chance have your pressures from high and low sides? This would tell me a little more.
Going off what I have.
Your PCM has requirements that must be met in order for it to engage your clutch. One of them is your engine temperature must not exceed a set amount. I know on Chevy trucks this is 250 degrees fahrenheit that it will disengage the clutch. I imagine it is in the same area with Dodge. Have you noticed it running warmer than usual? The reason for this is so that the radiator will dissipate heat quicker without fighting against the added heat from the condensor.
Another possibility is that your compressor clutch itself is heating up. As it heats up, it opens the circuit until it cools off again.
Another possibility is the compressor clutch relay coil going bad and essentially doing the same thing as a faulty clutch coil would do.
Another possiility... In 2001 Dodge put 2 clutch cycling switches in their 1500 pickups. One is pressure operated, the other is all electronic. Being that you bypassed the pressure switch and nothing, It is possible the electronic cycling switch is faulty.
And of course there is the PCM itself. It may be receiving all of the correct status signals, but not translating them correctly.
As I said, there are many things that could be causing this, but the first thing that I would check would be your engine temp. If it is running warmer than it used to, perhaps you need to change your thermostat, or flush your coolant system. Beyond this I would recommend that you take it to a reputable shop and have the electrical system troubleshot.
Thank you for your question and I hope I was of some assistance. If I can do anything further now or in the future, do not hesitate to ask. If you found this response useful please remember to rate this answer. Thanks again and good luck in everything.