Have you checked for codes WHILE THE AC IS MALFUNCTIONING?

 

The second time, the light stayed on, but it quit for good, i.e., no intermitent cooling. Checked fuses but not relays. Reputable shop wanted to replace the compressor, which had a very small leak at the split in the housing. I said fine, why pay for a lot of diagnostic time when the leaking compressor had to go anyway? And if it was the clutch, that would take care of it. It seems to have done so. They didn't do anything else (other than recharge) as far as I know.

Assuming Don's question is directed at OP, but I had scanned for codes with the car running. No codes at all. The coolant rises quickly to at least 180F from a cold start.

 

The reason P0128 is intermittent is that it depends on the time it takes to reach 179F, it runs each time the engine is started and clears itself each time the engine is shut down. If you drive the car to the store and then start it back up to go home it will already be warmed up and take less time to reach 179F Likewise, if the ambient temp is in the 100s.
P0128 clears itself when the condition no longer exists, i.e. the second start of the day. That is why I asked if it was checked while the AC is malfunctioning; otherwise it is something else, like the pressure switch.
If the running temp is below 179F I would expect to see P0128. The function of the t-stat is to keep the coolant temp ABOVE 180F and to get there quickly. It is a emissions thing; better combustion at higher temps. The AC not functioning is a way to alert the driver that the EPA is peeved at them.

 

Just wanted to give an update to this thread. It’s been quite a while. The car stranded me with a dead battery I replaced the battery and the AC started working perfectly not sure why, but that seems to have fixed it

 

Thanks for the update, dead batteries can cause a lot of problems.