Magnus is the owner and main author of Mechanicbase. Seems to be working. 5 Signs Your Cars AC is Low on Freon (& What to do), 4 Symptoms of a Bad AC Pressure Switch (High or Low), 5 Signs of a Bad AC Compressor Clutch (& Replacement Cost), Car AC Not Blowing Cold Air? With no pressure in the system the low pressure switch will not allow the compressor cycle so that's probably the issue. Read also: What Happens When There is Oil in The Coolant Reservoir? They did an evacuation and recharge of the system. It can also be caused by a faulty high or low AC pressure switch, a blown fuse, a bad AC clutch or a bad electrical connection. Goodmorning, the ac compressor on my ford escape is not engaging. Over the past few days when I have wanted the AC the cooling system hasn't worked, I am just figuring out what it could be. The clutch is not getting a signal to turn on. You should check the following areas before making any new fixes. Started 14 hours ago, By 2012 Ford Escape 3.0 last week my AC went out! July 21, 2016 in Ford Fiesta Club. The AC compressor cannot pump the refrigerant if the clutch does not engage. In other words, the system is low on refrigerant. Inspect the harness to make sure that it doesnt have any opens or shorts. Mechanic's Assistant: What year is your Escape? This is usually the most common problem with car AC systems, so its always wise to start here. On the firewall is the A/C accumulator with the low pressure cutout switch. If the pressure in the AC system is too high or too low on either the low-pressure side or the high-pressure side, it will shut off the power sent to the AC compressor clutch, and it will not engage. Get it Jan 26 - Feb 2. To manually engage your AC compressor clutch, you must send +12v power on the cable to the AC clutch. Any good shop should be able to trace this down. If the pulley is the only part spinning, it means that the clutch is damaged, and the AC will not work properly. Do not get the 12 volts to the clutch so cannot be the clutch. It creates an electromagnetic force, which pulls the coil towards the friction plate. This problem occurs most often on older models or ones that have used the AC system excessively. Related: Symptoms of a Bad Car A/C Condenser. The bypass you tried relies on the fuse listed to have power to the relay. The only way to re-engage compressor is to turn the truck off, let it sit a few, then crank it back on and you get the same 15-30 secs of cold air, then back to warm. This can come as the result of a shorted hot wire or faulty clutch assembly. PRICE: 84.99. What Happens When There is Oil in The Coolant Reservoir? Ships from and sold by Parts Geek LLC. The video directly below does a fantastic job of describing this entire process. It could be because of a blown fuse, a bad clutch coil, or an open on the wire to the clutch coil. We only use the commissions thereby generated to maintain the site. Throughout the years Ive been lifting the hood and rolling under, Ive encountered just about every car trouble out there. You dont want to turn the pulley where it is attached to the belt. RELATED: Car AC Not Blowing Cold Air? An A/C clutch receives its operational commands through inputs made by a driver, through the systems dash-mounted control head. Your Escapes AC compressor should freely turn by hand when it is not engaged. AllIcouldAf-ford We were in and out of the shop getting the dye put in checking for leaks and would get it back for 2-3 weeks before the A/C would be intermittently cold. No, old AC compressors with a clutch should not spin all the time. Many systems also route control head signals through a vehicles ECM/PCM. Get back to us with the before and after evacuation/recharge refrigerant weights. Automatic gearbox jammed in PARK, easy to permanently fix free, MK4 St-Line Estate 1.0 125bhp economy & performance, My 2013 Ford Fiesta 1.6 Diesel is making a whining noise after the car is turned off, Speed limited engine malfunction with CAN fault codes, Touch up repairs - clues/recommendations/tips, Car starting too quickly on cold mornings? Limited-Lifetime Warranty. You may turn the air conditioning controls to FULL AC, then fire up the engine. Any ideas why its not lasting? The AC compressor is getting a command to turn on but is no longer able to, which would indicate that it needs replacing. Cold air started blowing again! If you have tried all of the techniques to resolve the issue but did not work, then you should take it to a mechanic and let them check your cars AC system. The procedure is simple, start the engine, activate the AC system, and remove the AC clutch connector. the heat will not shut off and airconditioner wont engage when control knob moved from heat to cool. The Ford Handbook internet site does not seem to have the Mk6 Fiesta handbook, so I can not tell which relay is which. Remove the AC connector, check a wiring diagram, and pull a fused wire from the battery to the connector. of r134a. Make sure that the clutch and the pulley is spinning simultaneously. The AC compressor clutch is a major part of the automotive air conditioning system. Upload or insert images from URL. TomsFocus I checked the relays which are good. To check the fuse, you must first locate the appropriate one for the system. Just wondering if you ever found a fix??? Who knows, you might get lucky like I did. Mine blows very cold, no matter how hot outside it is. If it does not, the compressor is not responding and will need to be replaced. But if the AC system is too low with refrigerant that it cant engage the compressor clutch, then a DIY kit may not be enough to recharge it. Escape A/C Recharge. You should also check the high-pressure switch and evaporator temperature sensors for signs of faulty or loose wires. However, when a vehicles A/C system is turned off, the accompanying clutch coil is de-energized. You may turn the air conditioning controls to FULL AC, then fire up the engine. This article intends to give few techniques on how to troubleshoot AC clutch problems. Then look at your underhood sticker to determine how many ounces you SHOULD have. Pasted as rich text. Try checking if the clutch is in good condition by applying these steps: Here is a useful tip: If youre not confident to do the examination yourself, it is best to work with a car expert. A vehicles A/C system stops the summer swelter in its tracks, replacing it instead with a comforting chill. Ensure that your engine is turned off when performing this inspection. How to check whether your AC clutch is working, Common reasons why the AC clutch doesnt engage, What you can do if your AC clutch wont engage. m1tch, Method 2: Jump-start The Clutch The process is a bit different for older cars that are not compatible with the R134a type. Display as a link instead, 2. Remove the electrical connector from the dryer/receiver and jumper the two connections inside the wiring harness side of the connector together: this allows the compressor to engage in spite of low pressure/no gas in the system. The AC compressor is empowered by the flywheel of a cars engine. Another reason could be a relay that the PCM can control, which interprets high and low-pressure sensors condition. Ill also update when I get a resolution to the problem. Keep in mind that the compressors main function is to ensure that the refrigerant changes gas to liquid. If there are two belts, theyll both be attached at the crank pulley. Definitely dye should be added so that any leaks can be found. Use a wiring diagram to ensure you have the right wire. However, this piece may cost you too much to replace. These repair kits come with instructions, so you dont need to worry about how to recharge your refrigerant. rcmckee They did an evacuation and recharge of the system. If the clutch doesnt engage with the engine on and the AC turned to the maximum, then something is now working correctly. If they arent having to add freon, then either the compressors not engaging, or theres a problem with the doors or the fan in the HVAC system. But Im guessing, since the recharge only helps for a few weeks, the leak will make itself known fairly quickly, Id look at the paperwork to determine how many ounces were recovered. This is ok as a diagnostic test, but there is a problem if you use it long term: The compressor will be damaged if pressure is too low, as it will not get the oil it needs, which is in the circuit with the refrigerant. Even with the key off, treat them like they can still come on. (4 Causes and How to Fix), Does Cruise Control Actually Save Gas? Compressor does not run in any AC mode. In turn, the A/C system clutch disengages. 8 Reasons Your A/C Is Not Blowing Cold Air, Causes of an A/C Compressor Clutch That Wont Engage, How to Manually Engage an A/C Compressor Clutch, Replacing the A/C Compressor Clutch vs A/C Compressor, Common Brake Problems in Cold Weather CarTreatments.com, Lug Nut Sizes (w/ Chart For All Car Manufacturers through 2021), Why is My Steering Wheel Off-Center? 15 people found this helpful. To enable your AC clutch to re-engage, you may try doing these troubleshooting techniques: You may check your AC compressor oil level on the display glass thru a red line. The #1 Ford Explorer enthusiast resource for over 25 years! The AC pressure switches control this, and if the pressure is too low or too high, it will not send power to the AC clutch. But, I have no reason to think it will last. Started Sunday at 04:53 PM, By The pulley should be turning and then the compressor clutch should engage. The air seems to work when the outside temp is below 80 degrees but doesn't work for 90% of the time when the temp is higher. If the air conditioning isnt working, the problem could be the AC clutch. Obviously, youd want to do this with the vehicle off. The failure of any of these sensors can render an A/C clutch inoperable. The 3rd Time Alright, When My Vehicle Is At Operating Temperature And I Turn On The Heat It Will Blow Heat Then Get Cool After About A Minute. From you description, it sounds as though the system isn't building enough pressure, and by relation enough heat to turn the cooling fans on. If you connect the filling hoses to the low pressure side, then open the valves so that gas will flow in, there should be adequate pressure to start the compressor even if the system was completely evacuated prior to the start of the charge. Started Tuesday at 12:48 PM, Ford Owners Club Todays modern A/C systems even feature dual-climate control, allowing each of a vehicles occupants to set the in-cabin temperature as desired. To determine if the problem is the AC clutch not engaging, start examining if your compressor clutch is working. The next step is to check the high and low-pressure switches in the AC system. Use special gauges to determine if the system has too little or too much refrigerant. Im Stephen and Ive been an auto mechanic for over a decade now. So they are saying there is no leak. To check these, you can often measure them with a multimeter. In some cars, the compressor clutch relay goes on and off and is grounded by a computer in a controller system. This is a full explanation of how the system works. If this circuit is traced the fault of a open circuit can be found out. Compressor not included. At idle, it will stay on for about 3 seconds, then disengage for about 3 . This pressure pushes the refrigerant through the rest of the system. The A/C stopped blowing cold air . There are shops that wont throw their hands up so quickly. Click Here for the 5 best options. If you dont get any voltage reading, then check the fuse. 1861cp An over-charged AC system could also cause the clutch not to engage and the pressure will cause its parts to wear out faster. Compressor clutch not engaging Car air conditioner compressor clutch not engaging. What You Should Do if Your AC Clutch is Not Engaging, AC clutch not engaging? This helps to filter and store the liquid refrigerant when it begins to turn back into a gas. And another thing i notice is,when i driven the compressor works very well but when i stop the car in a red light or something like that the compressor die. that have created this guide for you so you can understand how the system works
Need the manual, really. May you find this article as helpful as we hoped it to be. Just driving to nowhere alone, with your friends, or your . Check other compressor parts: The condenser . By It could also slip at times, leading to erratic operations. What have you tried so far? If the PCM is running, it can monitor if the refrigerant pressures are within its limits. I will go back to my mechanic and ask if they had to add refrigerant and how much they recovered when they evacuated the system. Seems to work good when outside temps are below 80 degrees. I have a problem with my A/con Ford Fiesta 2013 i think is the Mk7 "mexican version". Ask your Ford dealer. Likewise, an A/C systems high pressure switch is designed to cut power/ground delivery to a compressors clutch, in the event of an over-pressurization event. As for the engine coolant temp sensor, if the coolant is not hot enough to make the fan come on, then there is no need for the fan yet and there is no problem . Your last post confused me. They did the evacuation/recharge and the air is now blowing cold again. RECALLS! With a DIY repair kit, you can recharge the system to the right levels. Your shop should know where that spot it for your cars AC design. Castrol Edge vs. Mobil 1 Oil: Differences & Which Is Better? Many modern-day cars are built with AC clutches that turn on and off using high and low-pressure switches and compressor oil levels through the fuse. Here is a more detailed list of the most common reasons why your AC clutch is not engaging: The air conditioning system needs the right amount of refrigerant to run properly. What is the AC clutch and how does it work? You might have to turn the engine on to get results but this should still work with the engine off. You will need a wire crimp tool because the connectors are small. . This gives power to the pump rotor that keeps the compressor running. These include your Fuse, Coolant or Refrigerant, and Compressor Oil. natedawg8t6 Indeed they do, if the pressure is too high or too low it won't activate I believe. Started 14 hours ago, By Ford Escape AC Compressor Not Engaging: How to Check and Fix. Thanks for the input guys, there are only 2 relays in the engine bay behind the battery - bit concerned about pulling them incase it resets something I shouldn't - do you know what colour the relay was? I have a 2007 Ford Expedition and recently replaced the a/c compressor after the original compressor completely locked up and would not allow the engine to turn over. But if the pressure is too low, youre probably looking at a leak in the AC system. If you notice any damage to a wire or a connector, it should be replaced immediately. These include low or excess refrigerant and insufficient oil. It may even be illegal to do it yourself where you live. You may check your ACs user manual for specifications. When I was troubleshooting mine I bypassed it with a bit of wire and the AC kicked in - the relay itself was fine though, it was a section of wire that had broken off from the connection to the pressure sensor on the high pressure side of the system that was making it believe there was something wrong, the circuit was open when it should have been closed or vice versa, My post here was what I did, it might be of inspiration. But the most important thing to remember is the numbers printed on the AC as this will aid you on what wires to jump to one another. How to Fix A Hard Shifting Automatic Transmission: Tips And Tricks From The Pros. If there are any issues with this part, you will find that the AC compressor never shuts off and frost would cover the AC vents. Who doesnt love road trips? 97 it's a, I have a 2007 h3 hummer base model. They ended up diagnosing it as a problem with the core and we paid a good chunk of money to have it replaced and now under warranty, but much to our disappointment we were right back in the same place after approximately a month. If you hear a thunk or clunk noise after turning the AC on, the compressor is engaging. Copyright 2023 Mechanic Base. 2. Ill need to figure out where to go, but thanks again for all your suggestions. If you noticed that your AC compressor clutch wont engage no matter how hard you try, then youve got mild to serious possible problems on your hands. Thats where you will get the problem resolved. No problems since then (two years ago). Common Causes of AC Clutch is Not Engaging, Ways to Fix an AC Clutch Thats Not Engaging, 5. You can jump-start the clutch to see if it will get moving manually. Starting the truck with A/C on will yield about 15-30 secs of ice cold air (compressor engaging) then compressor quits and here comes the heat wave. Stephen Interior Leave a comment 7,609 Views. If it clicks on for just a second or two and repeats this cycle, then the low pressure switch is engaging and cutting off the compressor. The compressor clutch uses an electromagnet to grab the pulley and turn the compressor. Cold air started blowing again! $285.95. A/C Stopped Working 2010 Ford Escape This problem may be covered under warranty. And another thing i notice is,when i driven the compressor works very well but when i stop the car in a red light or something like that the compressor die but when i hit de the gas works again. Sounds to me like you have a leak somewhere. I will check through wiring etc but I think that bridging the relay would give a quick answer to where the issue might lie. Condenser may be blocked. Notes: A/C install kit, Includes: Filter Drier, Expansion Valve, Compressor Oil, Necessary O-Rings and Gaskets, Cap and Valve Kit. But this is just a symptom. Then 2-3 weeks later, my wife says she saw a puff of smoke come out of the vents (not sure if it was smoke or vapor or what). (Radiator fan). Started February 6, 2020, By If you notice that the belt is slipping then you would have to adjust it. Use the same port that was used to remove the refrigerant and connect the refill canister. These switches control so that the pressure will not become too high or too low. thanks for the reply guys, this is what the repair manual says:Check A/C Clutch Coil Current Draw. If there are readings on both the high and low sides but they are not . There is an AC relay in the relay box next to the battery. Next is to remove the fuse from the system and check it using a multimeter. AutosHub.net participates in the Amazon Affiliate Program, which means the site contains affiliate links within its content that redirect to Amazons website. 2012 ford fusion evaporator temperature sensor bypass. This item: A/C Compressor Kit - Compatible with 2008-2012 Ford Escape. $8499. -or-. When you turn on the air conditioning, you expect to feel cold air pour out. Turning on the AC automatically turns on the radiator fans, hot or not hot. If the switch is not operating correctly, the AC system will not be pressurized correctly and will not work as efficiently in cooling the air. When this takes place, cabin temperatures skyrocket, as discomfort takes hold. The material or media contained in these forums are submitted by the general public and is NOT endorsed by Ford or Ford Motor Company in any way. Started 12 hours ago, By Common Causes (& How to Fix). Something else is the problem. The Compressor Is Cycling More Often Than I Recall. Only use the same port that was used to remove the AC system air conditioning you! The hood and rolling under, Ive encountered just about every car trouble out there does Cruise Actually! 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