2006 base cannot get AC clutch to kick on
 

hello all! i'm new here so try to be patient with me ok heres my question my air worked fine before I had the at changed out now thew compressor doesnt kick on however the fans DO come on and the idle goes up seems like everything BUT the compressor works it doesnt matter if I jump it when i do no change fans turn on idle goes up same as if just plugged in I'm completely baffled by this is there any fuse or relay? I don't think it's the pcm but I cannot confirnm that because I just can't get the compressor to work

any ideas? I don't know what to do now jumping has always worked but not this time so I'm scared now..I have copd and I really need the air to work..as I said it worked before a shop changed out the alt. but I know they are gunna deny breaking or making a mistake so I'm looking for any and all help

thanks for reading and TIA if anyone comes through for me

After 11 years I'd be surprised if it doesn't need some refrigerant. That's the first thing I'd check. The problem is, there's no way to determine the level of refrigerant in there other than pumping it all out and adding the correct amount back in. You could add in a can to see if the compressor kicks in somewhere along the line. You won't have the exact correct amount in there but it might work anyway. There should be a sticker under the hood setting out the amount of refrigerant that should be in there. Don't add more than that, obviously. Look for leaks, especially near where they were working on the alternator.