Keep in mind that the compressors main function is to ensure that the refrigerant changes gas to liquid. They checked for leaks but found none. 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. Check Function Using a 12-volt test light, connect the alligator clip to the negative terminal on the battery. My Explorer did this in 92/93/94one 60 cent oring and its been good since. Im Stephen and Ive been an auto mechanic for over a decade now. SKU # 886341. Symptoms. I checked the relays which are good. 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. Seems that my mechanic does not know what else to try. hiace_drifter Need to fix your car's air conditioner? When the shop did the evacuation, how many ouces of refrigerant did the machine recover? Here is to hoping its a 60 cent o-ring. natedawg8t6 Started 14 hours ago, By not sure if these systems have a pressure failsafe where it doesn't operate if the internal pressure isn't high enough? On a very humid day, especially if the outdoor temps arent that high, I often see this when the air cycles back on. laumk7 I am thinking that the puff of vapor is the result of hot gas warming the evaportor and driving off condensed moisture i.e. Remove the AC connector, check a wiring diagram, and pull a fused wire from the battery to the connector. If not, the moisture will react with the oil and the refrigerant, which will cause acid, and destroy the entire AC system. The clutch resembles a friction plate. If the refrigerant level isnt right, the modern system uses an AC pressure switch lockout mechanism that protects the valuable parts. 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. Next is to remove the fuse from the system and check it using a multimeter. Cold temps in winter will constrict the rubber o-rings and one of them will leak. Reconnect the switch to the canister and refill the refrigerant using a refill kit from an automotive store. Dave May Next, you should look at the refrigerant hoses, wiring to the compressor and regulatory switches. 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. Ford Fiesta 2013 . Antonsd If it does have power and you bypassed it then you need to verify power to the compressor. 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. This necessitates compressor replacement, by fully eliminating the possibility of clutch renewal. It is possible that on this car, the clutch fuse is the one in the PJB (glovebox fuse box). This is a full explanation of how the system works. In other words, the system is low on refrigerant. Started August 12, 2021, By Also, it is quite labor-intensive to take out an old compressor and fix a new one. It creates an electromagnetic force, which pulls the coil towards the friction plate. The correct reading will display once the clutch engages and the gauge stops cycling. Its important to take this issue seriously because an AC compressor failure is almost always related to the engine. 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? However, when the AC pressure switch goes bad, warm air might be all you get. Another possible cause could be leaks in the AC system. If it engages, the clutch gap is too wide. The Compressor Is Cycling More Often Than I Recall. The AC compressor is getting a command to turn on but is no longer able to, which would indicate that it needs replacing. Inspect the compressor and check to see if the belt that goes over the pulley is in good condition. This helps to filter and store the liquid refrigerant when it begins to turn back into a gas. Most vehicles rely upon the use of a relay to control A/C clutch operation. Route the wires to the car battery. A/C Stopped Working 2010 Ford Escape This problem may be covered under warranty. The best remedy for this is getting your A/C serviced. It could also be of poor ground or a low-pressure lockout. 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. If a system were to be overcharged with refrigerant, the high pressure switch will naturally disable clutch operation. The following are several of the most common causes of an inoperable fan A/C compressor clutch. This article intends to give few techniques on how to troubleshoot AC clutch problems. Amazon Link AC Relays (Honda) - https://amzn.to/34vFNsrAmazon Link AC Relays (Toyota) - https://amzn.to/2NaBJbNIf your A/C compressor clutch won't engage bec. If there isn't enough refrigerant, the clutch may not engage. You should check the following areas before making any new fixes. 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. Check if this fits your 2012 Ford Escape. Check the front of the compressor clutch. 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. But, I have no reason to think it will last. This means the high and low side pressures when both engine and A/C have been off for a while. If this clutch doesnt grab, the AC compressor will not turn on. By One comes from the power relay and one from the fuse. It is also a simple replacement to do. Your shop should know where that spot it for your cars AC design. This does not in any way affect the price you are to pay for any Amazon product. We took it back to the mechanic. Seems to be working. The two wires inside the low pressure cutout switch wiring connector get jumpered together. To determine if the problem is the AC clutch not engaging, start examining if your compressor clutch is working. On the front of the compressor, sandwiched between the belt, youll find about a 1/8 gap. 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. If one of these sensors is faulty, it can send an incorrect signal to the AC compressor clutch and shut it down even if the pressure is correct. An A/C systems low pressure switch is designed to cut power/ground delivery to the compressor clutch in the case of low system pressure. Pasted as rich text. . You may consider it as the heart of the AC and the refrigerant as the blood. 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. There are many reasons why an AC clutch does not engage. It should be on whenever the a/c is on. $62.21. Its meant to engage and disengage the compressor pulley from the drive. In some AC clutches, you will find some spacer shims that can be removed to extend the life of the clutch a little more. Just took it back to mechanic. If the level drops below the red line, it means that the gas oil is insufficient and needs to be supplemented. The clutch isnt going to normally wear out when its newer. Its located next to an electromagnetic coil. Is the AC clutch supposed to spin all the time? If the pulley and the clutch are both spinning it shows that the clutch is engaged with the pulley correctly. AutosHub.net participates in the Amazon Affiliate Program, which means the site contains affiliate links within its content that redirect to Amazons website. Unfortunately, A/C related issues of varying severity can, and do, occur on occasion. 2. They did an evacuation and recharge of the system. However, most car AC systems now use an electromagnetic clutch piece that engages the compressor to spin the air conditioning unit. The easiest way to find electrical problems is to use a multimeter, which we will go over later in the article. Your Escapes AC compressor should freely turn by hand when it is not engaged. Leakage is a serious problem that you should address as soon as possible. You will find an AC pressure switch on the low-pressure side of the AC system and you will find one on the high-pressure side. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, A/C stops working on 2012 Ford Escape 2-3 weeks after recharge/evacuation. Ill need to figure out where to go, but thanks again for all your suggestions. To check these, you can often measure them with a multimeter. Started 14 hours ago, By (Or Is It Just a Convenience? Leighton198 Display as a link instead, However, many components make up the air conditioning system, so your problem could be entirely different. Even with the key off, treat them like they can still come on. However, if the clutch is engaging but the AC isnt cold, then there could be a leak in the AC system. Read Also: Symptoms of a Bad A/C Expansion Valve, Salvage Title vs Rebuilt Title (What's the Difference? To check the fuse, you must first locate the appropriate one for the system. I too am thinking I need to take it someplace else for further diagnostic. You could also get warm air instead of cool air. You can jump-start the clutch to see if it will get moving manually. That happened last Fall, so we waited until this spring to try again. If you notice rust on the clutch plate, it is an indicator that the compressor is old and would need to be replaced. Adjust as necessary and retest system. Bypass the 3 wire AC pressure switch through B1 to B4. Started 13 hours ago, By The AC compressor pulley is always being turned by either the serpentine belt or a dedicated belt (its going to depend on the model year and engine type). However, this is seldom the case today. If it is not working properly, consider replacing it with a new one. Get a click, we can start troublshooting wires. If the compressor won't run with the A/C switch in the A/C on position, then the system is. The bypass you tried relies on the fuse listed to have power to the relay. Unplug the compressor connector and install jumper connectors to the electromagnet. 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. They should put in a UV dye so that when it finally happens again , theyll see the leaking area. Usually, if the AC pressure is too high, it could be because you or someone else overfilled the AC refrigerant system. The clutch is operated by an electromagnetic switch in most vehicles. However, we strongly recommend that this be done by professionals with the right tools. I'm not kidding about this. Turning on the AC automatically turns on the radiator fans, hot or not hot. Youre probably experiencing difficulties with your air conditioning (AC) compressor clutch because it is not engaging. and what to Has Been In The Shop 4 Times For This Same Problem. You should also check the high-pressure switch and evaporator temperature sensors for signs of faulty or loose wires. You dont want to turn the pulley where it is attached to the belt. I also talk about other relays that you ca. I thought it might be low on freon, but when I went to check the low pressure, I got a low pressure reading of 100, which is way too high. That's the only way to tell what's really going on. If you turn the AC off, the clutch loses its electrical energy. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. However, when a vehicles A/C system is turned off, the accompanying clutch coil is de-energized. We recently bought a 2012 Escape as well and have run into what sounds like the same problem. If there is a ground wire, you should also check the ground. Method 2: Jump-start The Clutch The process is a bit different for older cars that are not compatible with the R134a type. 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. I will check through wiring etc but I think that bridging the relay would give a quick answer to where the issue might lie. 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. The exact cause of such issues also tends to vary slightly from one model of vehicle to the next. 5 Best Fire Extinguisher For Cars Be Ready For Fire Emergencies. Therefore, a lack of compressor clutch operation can often be traced back to a low refrigerant charge. Started 2 hours ago, By Indeed they do, if the pressure is too high or too low it won't activate I believe. If you hear a thunk or clunk noise after turning the AC on, the compressor is engaging. Do NOT jump the low pressure switch to operate the compressor non-stop so you can add refrigerant. Ford Escape AC Compressor Not Engaging: How to Check and Fix. Started Tuesday at 12:48 PM, Ford Owners Club 97 it's a, I have a 2007 h3 hummer base model. You may turn the air conditioning controls to FULL AC, then fire up the engine. RECALLS! The most common reason why your AC clutch is not engaging is that the AC refrigerant level is too low or too high. Start the engine, and then see if the clutch and the pulley are running. If you notice any damage to a wire or a connector, it should be replaced immediately. Either way, the clutch could fail to disengage. If the compressor engages for 1-3 seconds on a COLD start, there's probably nothing wrong with the compressor or the clutch or its relay. This car AC element helps blow the air to cool it down. From Heat To Cool. If the pulley and the clutch are both spinning it shows that the clutch is engaged with the pulley correctly. 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