Martian. The A/C stopped blowing cold air . Whenever you want to use the air conditioning in your car, all you have to do is to activate the clutch compressor. 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. Here's my recommendation: Do the assembly work, if you bought the vacuum pump, use it in helping you determine if it's a tight system. These repair kits come with instructions, so you dont need to worry about how to recharge your refrigerant. See Also: 8 Reasons Your A/C Is Not Blowing Cold Air. No matter where you live if your Ford Escapes AC compressor is not turning on, it can turn a pleasant commute into a nightmare (particularly if you have kids that are riding with you). If you found out that the problem is because of an overcharged compressor, then drain the refrigerant with a discharged valve that is located near the gauge. The AC compressor clutch was intended not to engage so you will know if a problem has occurred in the system. Your shop should know where that spot it for your cars AC design. Compressor not included. You will damage the compressor. m1tch, Another possibility to check is whether the compressor clutch is not reliably engaging due to wear. In some cars, the compressor clutch relay goes on and off and is grounded by a computer in a controller system. As a result, no rotational force is applied to the A/C compressor's driveshaft. SEE, I think it's a 15 pin plug and two wires change on the plug fro 95 to. You will need a wire crimp tool because the connectors are small. 97 it's a, I have a 2007 h3 hummer base model. If it engages, the clutch gap is too wide. This article covers both causes and fixes for this issue. Hey everyone! Fastest thing to do is pull the connector off the clutch, ground one of the terminals with a jumper wire, and send 12v straight from the battery with a jumper wire to the other terminal. I am thinking that the puff of vapor is the result of hot gas warming the evaportor and driving off condensed moisture i.e. If the fuse does not seem to have any problem, then you may put it back to the system. Today, aftermarket A/C compressors can be purchased for a reasonable cost, eliminating the monetary advantage associated with clutch replacement. Measure the voltage coming to the connector with a multimeter, and if everything is activated properly, you should see 12 to 14 volts coming to this wire. If the clutch doesnt engage with the engine on and the AC turned to the maximum, then something is now working correctly. But, I have no reason to think it will last. This indicates some form of wiring problem. If there is a ground wire, you should also check the ground. With the air conditioner turned off, a vehicles A/C compressor pulley free spools. Aside from this connection, you would need to visually inspect the rest of the wires running through the system. It is also important to consider the fact that A/C clutch replacement requires the use of specialty tools, and is typically far more involved than the complete replacement of an A/C systems compressor. Ford Escape AC Compressor Not Engaging: How to Check and Fix. SKU # 886341. Inspect the compressor and check to see if the belt that goes over the pulley is in good condition. Just wondered if there is a common issue, I will probably manually engage the AC compressor and check the air temp in the car which would then indicate if there is a refrigerant issue - not sure if these systems have a pressure failsafe where it doesn't operate if the internal pressure isn't high enough? The most common problem for that symptom is the fan relay burns out, and the A/C comes on strong but then overheats quickly making the pressure in the condenser get too high and the pressure cycling switch automatically turns off the A/C. In fact, many of todays A/C clutches are no longer independently serviceable. RELATED: 4 Symptoms of a Bad AC Pressure Switch (High or Low). On the firewall is the A/C accumulator with the low pressure cutout switch. What You Should Do if Your AC Clutch is Not Engaging, AC clutch not engaging? It may just be that the belt cant turn the compressor anymore. Limited-Lifetime Warranty. If this clutch doesnt grab, the AC compressor will not turn on. Who knows, you might get lucky like I did. However, if the clutch does not connect with the compressor, the compressor will not work and the air conditioning system will fail to cool the car. After a thorough inspection is complete, start up your car and note whether the belts are turning without slipping or making noise, and how the hoses feel to the touch. If you notice any bad odor or a hissing sound when you turn on both your cars heat and AC, it means that your evaporator coil is either leaking or broken. 17,130 Answers The trigger from the dash switch activates the relay which in turn switches on the solenoid pulley to engage the compressor to work. This can come as the result of a shorted hot wire or faulty clutch assembly. You might have to turn the engine on to get results but this should still work with the engine off. back to AC / heater Complaints 271 Crash Tests 3 Lemon Law 7.6 pretty bad Typical. If the clutch does engage manually, you are looking at some rarer issues. Thats where you will get the problem resolved. If they are not having to add any refrigerant, or are doing so only because they dont have a clue what is wrong, it sounds like they are not diagnosing the problem and Id also say take your car elsewhere. 3. The AC relay (number 20) reads good voltage to the relay outlet. Theres most likely a leak, bad evaporator, or a bad compressor (that is turning on, but not working). Itll often be located by electric fans. 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. Its located next to an electromagnetic coil. If you haven't bought one, don't. Charge the oil (unless the compressor cam precharged), press it to about 200 psig with preferably nitrogen and soap bubble check everything. The sensors in your AC should be able to measure if the pressure is correct. This is to maintain system pressure and keep the seals from drying out. Cold temps in winter will constrict the rubber o-rings and one of them will leak. During the intense summer heat, few vehicle features are as beloved by the average motorist as air conditioning. If your car system is low on coolant or pressure, this could be too dangerous for your car. 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. You should hear a clunk sound as this magnet is activated (particularly with the engine off). 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. The power going to the AC compressor relay is going to be fused, so check that fuse while youre at it as well. The easiest check is to look at the refrigerant levels. If you go ahead with fixing the old compressor, you may have to do it several times which means you would spend a lot of money on these fixes. You should be able to reference a diagram in your cars service manual. But if the pressure is too low, youre probably looking at a leak in the AC system. Bengi Each time Ive taken it in, they have said that the refrigerant pressure checks out OK. By You can use DIY kits to recharge the system, however, you must do so correctly to prevent overfilling the system which could create problems. Display as a link instead, Tiny bits of metal can clog your AC condenser. However, many components make up the air conditioning system, so your problem could be entirely different. 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. Started Tuesday at 12:48 PM, Ford Owners Club Thank you so much for the feedback thus far. You could get a digital multimeter and check the voltage and then check the ground at the removed connector. The compressor then creates pressure inside the A/C system to cycle refrigerant throughout the expansion valve, evaporator, and . . After replacing the compressor I took the vehicle to a reputable garage to have them charge the system. Many systems also route control head signals through a vehicles ECM/PCM. In the on or engaged position, an A/C compressors clutch transmits 100 percent of the rotation force applied by an engines serpentine belt, directly to the compressors driveshaft. . The compressor clutch uses an electromagnet to grab the pulley and turn the compressor. Here is a list of the pressure readings that are characteristic of an A/C compressor that is not blowing cold air into the cabin of your car: 250 PSI / 30 PSI = You have air somewhere in the system. 4.5 amps, check clutch air gap. Get at least 20% off selected Ford parts on eBay View parts on eBay now! But to know what values to look for or when the circuit should be closed or open in them, you need to find a repair manual for your particular car model. 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. 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. 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. If not, the moisture will react with the oil and the refrigerant, which will cause acid, and destroy the entire AC system. On the other hand, if it is turning freely, we need to determine why its not activating. Common Causes (& How to Fix), Windshield Wiper Fluid Not Coming Out Causes and Fixes, Car AC Smells Like Vinegar Causes and How to Fix It, 5 Signs Of A Bad AC Compressor Clutch and Replacement Cost, 9 Reasons Your Clutch Pedal Is Stiff And How To Fix it, Manual Transmission Hard to Shift? Ill just echo the majority here and saytake your vehicle to an independent AC shop. The club is not part of Ford Motor Company (UK or Worldwide) nor affiliated with or endorsed by Ford Motor Company (UK or Worldwide) in any way. Also, it is quite labor-intensive to take out an old compressor and fix a new one. The Best Torque Wrench Digital or Dial Type? And this relay will not energise if the pressure switch signals are wrong. ANY good A/C shop will solve this riddle in short orderits all they do. Common Causes (& How to Fix). Started 14 hours ago, By Here are the four main reasons why your Escape's may not be working: Clutch Cycling Switch- AC systems use an electromagnetic clutch to activate the compressor. and what to Has Been In The Shop 4 Times For This Same Problem. After inspecting the belt, there can only be two things left that could be happening: 1. Again it will need to be vacuumed and refilled. With the engine on, you can fully diagnose the problem. 2-3 weeks later, we saw the same puff and then no cold air. Ford Escape. You may also notice a bad smell when you turn on both heat and AC. Refrigerant pressure is OK, but no cooling? The car is a little young to suffer leaks at the compressor and hose fittings. 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). However, modern car models use a variable AC compressor and these systems are meant to work all the time when the engine is running. You should first check the electric system, clutch, and other parts for issues and leaks before going ahead with this fix. No problems since then (two years ago). These include low or excess refrigerant and insufficient oil. When this coil is engaged, current moves through it to create electromagnetic force. Adjust as necessary and retest system. Check the front of the compressor clutch. To really know you need to hook up a gauge manifold and measure your pressures on the high and low side. 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). DizzyG 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. Castrol Edge vs. Mobil 1 Oil: Differences & Which Is Better? Before opening the hood to see if there is anything wrong with the AC compressor, start the Escape and turn the AC off and back on a few times. The official Ford website can be found at http://www.ford.co.uk/. A/C only blows cold air below 78 degrees or so. Magnus is the owner and main author of Mechanicbase. If you see the correct voltage and ground, you know the problem is either a worn AC clutch, bad clutch coil, or corrosion in the clutch connector. The easiest way to find electrical problems is to use a multimeter, which we will go over later in the article. 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. What, if anything, could I try to diagnose? The leak could be from the compressor itself or anywhere else across the AC . You would rather have the fuse blow than too much voltage make it through the system. rcmckee Copyright 2023 AutoMobile Remedy, All Rights Reserved. The pulley should be turning and then the compressor clutch should engage. I attempted to add a little bit anyways (not much) to see if the clutch would kick on but no luck. Last summer, the A/C on our 2012 Ford Escape stopped blowing cold air. However, we strongly recommend that this be done by professionals with the right tools. Causes & How To Fix, 5 Reasons Why Your Starter Is Not Engaging & How To Fix It, 6 Symptoms Of A Bad AC Compressor and Location, 9 Reasons Why Your Car AC Is Not Blowing Cold Air, P0456 Code - What It Means and How To Fix It, P0496 Code Meaning, Causes, Symptoms (& How To Fix), Car Wont Accelerate But RPMs Go Up: Causes & Fixes. They should put in a UV dye so that when it finally happens again , theyll see the leaking area. Find a repair shop that can put a set of refrigerant gauges on the system. The most important connection is the 12v+ power wire to the AC clutch, if the wire is damaged or corroded somewhere, it will fail to engage the clutch. Alexdeltaron Some 2015-2018 F-150 and 2017-2018 F-Super Duty vehicles may exhibit a lack of cooling from the heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) system due to a low refrigerant charge. Air is cold. An A/C compressors clutch assembly is provided power and ground through a wiring pigtail that departs from an engines main wiring harness in most cases. Another possible cause could be leaks in the AC system. Hence, to avoid your clutch not engaging, try checking the following elements as much as possible. 2. Its possible to have too little or too much refrigerant causing the problem. The a/c clutch normally uses a 10A fuse. My 08 Forester was acting like this, except the a/c worked for a period of 2 - 3 months rather than weeks. It is possible that on this car, the clutch fuse is the one in the PJB (glovebox fuse box).