Im Stephen and Ive been an auto mechanic for over a decade now. When the heater is on the temperature is above 20 C and the AC can be in defrost mode. With time, a compressors clutch assembly can begin to show its age. How do I manually engage my AC compressor clutch? July 21, 2016 in Ford Fiesta Club. srpocd25 Stephen Interior Leave a comment 7,609 Views. Read also: What Happens When There is Oil in The Coolant Reservoir? Ford Escape. DaveOM Started 14 hours ago, By Key on, engine off, test for 2 powers at the relay cavity. After inspecting the belt, there can only be two things left that could be happening: 1. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, A/C stops working on 2012 Ford Escape 2-3 weeks after recharge/evacuation. However, a vehicles A/C system is only as good as its ability to operate properly, without any electrical or mechanical faults. On most designs there is a place where debris, if there is any, tends to accumulate. Check the clutch plate for signs of rust. Its located next to an electromagnetic coil. It should spin only when the AC system is activated and functional. Just took it back to mechanic. However, one must also determine the reason behind the fuses failure. Can It Just Be Low On Hi 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. Started 2 hours ago, By Cold air started blowing again! . 2012 Ford Escape. You can jump-start the clutch to see if it will get moving manually. AutosHub.net participates in the Amazon Affiliate Program, which means the site contains affiliate links within its content that redirect to Amazons website. Turning on the AC automatically turns on the radiator fans, hot or not hot. 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. Performance upgrades, maintenance, modifications and problem solving. The bypass you tried relies on the fuse listed to have power to the relay. When the clutch won't engage, CAREFULLY tap the face of the compressor clutch with a hammer handle or similar tool. The best remedy for this is getting your A/C serviced. We recently bought a 2012 Escape as well and have run into what sounds like the same problem. Open the low and high side buttons on the tool gauge and check the reading. 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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. Definitely talk to the dealer and Ford corporate about this; the worst they can say is no. The #1 Ford Explorer enthusiast resource for over 25 years! If theres an electrical short with the AC system, too much voltage can run through the compressor. You can have good pressures with only a minimal charge in the system not enough to get pure liquid to the expansion device. of r134a. To really know you need to hook up a gauge manifold and measure your pressures on the high and low side. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 0 %. Ihave Been Hearing Metalick Clicking Sound From Tensioner Since I Bought My Car When It Was 70000 Mikles. Turn the AC to high while looking at the serpentine belt for any issues. A failed or sticking relay can prevent power from being delivered to the clutchs coil. If there is a ground wire, you should also check the ground. . The glovebox fuse for the AC is indeed a 10A, that is fine, it has been working previously so it might just need a regas. 250 PSI / 50 PSI = The system is overcharged and the condenser is not cooling. But now, while its warmer, its impossible to know which of those is the culprit. Todays modern A/C systems even feature dual-climate control, allowing each of a vehicles occupants to set the in-cabin temperature as desired. Certified Automotive Diagnostic Technician. No leaks. They did the evacuation/recharge and the air is now blowing cold again. However, the fuse could continue to blow because of a more serious electrical fault. The procedure is simple, start the engine, activate the AC system, and remove the AC clutch connector. SEE, I think it's a 15 pin plug and two wires change on the plug fro 95 to. You can also examine this for noise and smell issues. Alexdeltaron The Ford Handbook internet site does not seem to have the Mk6 Fiesta handbook, so I can not tell which relay is which. Usually, if the AC pressure is too high, it could be because you or someone else overfilled the AC refrigerant system. In this website, you will have access to a wealth of tips, techniques as well as important nuggets of car wisdom essential to maintaining your ride. However, it normally makes more sense to put in a new AC compressor. The most common reason why your AC clutch is not engaging is that the AC refrigerant level is too low or too high. That could explain why it works for a while, then stops working. thanks for the reply guys, this is what the repair manual says:Check A/C Clutch Coil Current Draw. What is the AC clutch and how does it work? Your previous content has been restored. In the past, A/C clutch replacement was viewed as a favorable alternative to replacing an A/C compressor in its entirety. Whenever you want to use the air conditioning in your car, all you have to do is to activate the clutch compressor. 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. Last summer, the A/C on our 2012 Ford Escape stopped blowing cold air. There are many ways for AC compressor clutches to receive power. If you hear a thunk or clunk noise after turning the AC on, the compressor is engaging. Escape A/C Recharge. Check the wiring to the clutch for any issues. Is the Fan behind the condenser working? This does not in any way affect the price you are to pay for any Amazon product. When you turn on the air conditioning, you expect to feel cold air pour out. Youll need a jump wire. I also talk about other relays that you ca. Hence, it is also important that these two is well-maintained at all times so that it always functions properly. There are many reasons why an AC clutch does not engage. The AC relay (number 20) reads good voltage to the relay outlet. Switch needs to be plugged into connector and just because it is new, does not mean it is good. Started 12 hours ago, By That is why the pressure switch is there. Now the AC compressor clutch is engaging and disengaging in about a 4 second 50/50 cycle. 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. - My E350's AC was not working (clutch not engaging) so I added two cans (22 oz.) Read on and learn how to diagnose and fix AC compressor clutch issues. Debris in the system will quickly plug the tiny orifices in the system. They checked for leaks but found none. Dec 25, 2006. Solved A/C compressor clutch not engaging . Refrigerant pressure is OK, but no cooling? Please check your cars AC manual to know its right level of pressure. 97 it's a, I have a 2007 h3 hummer base model. If you notice that the belt is slipping then you would have to adjust it. 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. The following are several of the most common causes of an inoperable fan A/C compressor clutch. Is it possible for it to be leaking but to have the pressure check out OK? Adjust as necessary and retest system. 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. Again it will need to be vacuumed and refilled. You could also get warm air instead of cool air. Looking for a good online repair manual? Who doesnt love road trips? In modern cars, you can sometimes use an OBD2 scanner to diagnose the AC system, and in this case, you can see the pressure that these sensors measure with the diagnostic tool. 4.5 amps, check clutch air gap. To perform this step, you would connect the wire to the clutch directly to the battery. You cannot paste images directly. You should check the following areas before making any new fixes. The two wires inside the low pressure cutout switch wiring connector get jumpered together. 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. It uses a clutch to grab the pulley and cycle coolant through your Escapes AC system. 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 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. . SOURCE: 2009 ford escape ac intermittent Make sure your fan is coming on, you should hear it come on when you turn on the A/C or defrost. Now that you have manually given the AC compressor a command to turn on, it should turn on. Your last post confused me. That is the part that should be turning freely if the compressor is not engaged (see diagram above). This action will cause the fuse to blow. If the air conditioning isnt working, the problem could be the AC clutch. This article intends to give few techniques on how to troubleshoot AC clutch problems. Just like any clutch, its possible that it has simply worn out. If nothin happens, ac clutch bad. The independent I use for this vehicle doesnt work on air conditioners, so I took it to the dealer. If there isn't enough refrigerant, the clutch may not engage. If there is no power in the fuse or relay then the main wiring must be checked. You dont want to turn the pulley where it is attached to the belt. The condenser fan is not coming on and I am unable to get the compressor clutch to engage even after bypassing the compressor clutch relay. They checked for leaks but found none. 2012 Ford Escape 3.0 last week my AC went out! Inspect the belt to see if it is cracked or shiny. You could hear a hissing sound if it is not working correctly. 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. There are three reasons why the compressor clutch does not engage, especially if the sensor detects them. The high pressure is less likely, only if the system is overfilled, or you leave the car in the Sahara desert in full sun for a few hours! If the clutch does engage manually, you are looking at some rarer issues. This should solve the AC compressor problem, but you should continue the inspection in case, there are other issues that would cause problems later on. Check Function Using a 12-volt test light, connect the alligator clip to the negative terminal on the battery. Start the engine, and then see if the clutch and the pulley are running. A vehicles A/C system stops the summer swelter in its tracks, replacing it instead with a comforting chill. 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. Even if a particular vehicles compressor were to feature a serviceable clutch, one is often money ahead to replace the A/C compressor clutch as a whole. Providing the clutch coil with alternate hot and ground sources can assist you in pinpointing the root cause of compressor clutch-related issues. With the engine on, you can fully diagnose the problem. However, this piece may cost you too much to replace. We took it to our mechanic (who I trust). Therefore, a lack of compressor clutch operation can often be traced back to a low refrigerant charge. m1tch, Fix an Air Conditioning Not Working Video. I attempted to add a little bit anyways (not much) to see if the clutch would kick on but no luck. Started February 6, 2020, By Check the front of the compressor clutch. Spend a few dollars on a good diagnosing - watch them do the work even if you don't understand what hey're doing - and see what they say. If you have no power then it will not engage the compressor. Perform these next steps with the engine turned off. 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. Components used in the Ford Escape AC system Cylinder head temperature sensor Engine coolant temperature sensor Evaporator temperature sensor Low pressure AC cycling switch Dual function high pressure switch It is possible that on this car, the clutch fuse is the one in the PJB (glovebox fuse box). Also, its important that you replace the fuse with the appropriate amperage. The easiest check is to look at the refrigerant levels. natedawg8t6 green and/or greasy components . It may just be that the belt cant turn the compressor anymore. 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. After inspecting the belt, there can only be two things left that could be happening: 1. The AC compressor is getting a command to turn on but is no longer able to, which would indicate that it needs replacing. Ensure that your engine is turned off when performing this inspection. 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? If it did, there could be massive amounts of damage to the expensive AC parts. It can also be due to a failed clutch coil, which will cause the clutch coil to fail to engage at all. Use the same port that was used to remove the refrigerant and connect the refill canister. We only use the commissions thereby generated to maintain the site. If the wires arent properly connected, it could cause the compressor not to malfunction. Limited-Lifetime Warranty. It is also a simple replacement to do. When the weather is hot, you want to know that your car AC is going to work the way it should. At some rarer issues you too much to replace the compressor is engaged! 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