2002 F-150 Supercrew A/C blows cold and compressor stays engaged for @ 30 seconds after starting. Compressor then disengages and stays that way until engine is restarted. Then it does the same thing.

 

Check your clutch gap. Next time it does that, get under there and tap the face of the clutch plate with a stick or screwdriver handle and see if that causes the clutch to engage. That is a sure sign of excessive clutch gap.

Does the engine have any driveability concerns, i.e., misfiring, etc?

Manual or automatic climate control?

 

Another way to check your clutch gap is to use a business card. Any thicker or closer than that is no-go.

 

Always check the suction and discharge pressures to make sure they are okay.

 

The compressor has to be running to check pressures. Since the system cools fine for 30 seconds, there's probably nothing wrong with the pressures.

The problem appears to be that the system isn't cycling back on, either due to a control electronics issue or a problem with the clutch.

 

I understand that and I agree. But, I'd still check the pressures in that 30 seconds of run time. Maybe it's because I have a gauge set.

 

To a guy with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.