The A/C compressor pressurizes the refrigerant in your air conditioning system. Ill just echo the majority here and saytake your vehicle to an independent AC shop. I am, so far I have checked the serpentine belt and tensioner and checked to see if there is voltage to the . Your cars AC system contains many electrical wires and connections. 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. Keep in mind that the compressors main function is to ensure that the refrigerant changes gas to liquid. Is the AC clutch supposed to spin all the time? DaveOM Let us now learn how to manually engage the AC compressor clutch. Thats why Ive decided to put up my very own website. Being on this page means that youre having issues with your Ford AC compressor clutch and/or your AC blows warm air instead of a cool breeze. This process engages the plate, along with the compressor belt. The Ac Works Ok After A Little While On, But Not Like It Use To. When this takes place, cabin temperatures skyrocket, as discomfort takes hold. 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. Dan - Did you ever get to the bottom of this? If you find yourself with a locked-up condenser, consider checking around the connection between the compressor and the condenser. Step three is not that complicated but it is delicate. Cold air started blowing again! 250 PSI / 50 PSI = The system is overcharged and the condenser is not cooling. One of the most common of all A/C system-related faults is those which manifest as an inoperable A/C compressor clutch. . Belt: If the serpentine belt is worn . Don't leave it running to long like that though. 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. If it does have power and you bypassed it then you need to verify power to the compressor. 2. Any ideas why its not lasting? Who knows, you might get lucky like I did. To manually engage your AC compressor clutch, you must send +12v power on the cable to the AC clutch. They checked for leaks but found none. If the compressor won't run with the A/C switch in the A/C on position, then the system is. Started 12 hours ago, By And most places will roll the diagnostic fee into the cost of repair if they do the work. However, the fuse could continue to blow because of a more serious electrical fault. If you turn the AC off, the clutch loses its electrical energy. You can jump-start the clutch to see if it will get moving manually. Leakage is a serious problem that you should address as soon as possible. that have created this guide for you so you can understand how the system works If there are metal bits, you need to address that asap b/c if they work their way into the compressor they will ruin it. However, one must also determine the reason behind the fuses failure. 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. 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. rcmckee Dave May 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 Either way, the clutch could fail to disengage. Mechanic's Assistant: What year is your Escape? If the pulley and the clutch are both spinning it shows that the clutch is engaged with the pulley correctly. Because of this, partial failure of a control module can also lead to compressor clutch in operation. After inspecting the belt, there can only be two things left that could be happening: 1. During this process, a technician will remove the old refrigerant from the A/C 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. 2. Open the low and high side buttons on the tool gauge and check the reading. The AC compressor is empowered by the flywheel of a cars engine. FluffyBunnyFlipFlops This action will help your compressor maintain its good workings. They did an evacuation and recharge of the system. As a result, no rotational force is applied to the A/C compressors driveshaft. How much does a Car AC Repair cost? Alexdeltaron See Also: 8 Reasons Your A/C Is Not Blowing Cold Air. May you find this article as helpful as we hoped it to be. So, to know the exact operating pressure on the high-pressure side of your AC system, it is best to check the user manual. Related: Symptoms of a Bad Car A/C Condenser. Symptoms. Car Maintenance, General Repair, Trouble Shooting, and Everything Car Related. It could also be of poor ground or a low-pressure lockout. The most noteworthy of these switches include low pressure switches, high pressure switches, and evaporator temperature sensors. There are shops that wont throw their hands up so quickly. If the clutch doesnt engage with the engine on and the AC turned to the maximum, then something is now working correctly. Started December 2, 2020, By Almost every major automotive manufacturer now recommends compressor replacement in the event of an A/C clutch failure. 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. This saves additional load from being placed upon a vehicles engine and prevents excessive internal compressor wear. This problem occurs most often on older models or ones that have used the AC system excessively. There should also be a fuse for the solenoid here. You can do this in under 2 minutes with a test light. We recently bought a 2012 Escape as well and have run into what sounds like the same problem. 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. ), P2004 Code: IMRC Issue (Symptoms, Causes, and Fixes). This action will cause the fuse to blow. Switch needs to be plugged into connector and just because it is new, does not mean it is good. Or, it may be turned by an independent belt. Free In-Store or Curbside Pick Up. laumk7 What Happens When There is Oil in The Coolant Reservoir? If it is not working properly, consider replacing it with a new one. 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? This gives power to the pump rotor that keeps the compressor running. This is a full explanation of how the system works. Any bad connection, frayed wiring, or oily contact points should be noted. The easiest check is to look at the refrigerant levels. Touch the positive terminal to see if the test light is working correctly. Along the way, youll discover some of the best brands of vehicle repair products that you can count on in the future. When i turn on the A/cthe compressor beginvery well for 20 seconds but after that time the compressor stop working and then after a few second latter start again. By 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. Posted: Oct 21, 2019. 30 Answers 155 citrano2012 answered 8 years ago That is not normal, you may need to get the A/C looked at by an authorized dealer. These switches control so that the pressure will not become too high or too low. He has been working as a car mechanic for over 10 years, and the majority of them specialized in advanced car diagnostics and troubleshooting. The clutch compressor is enabled through the engine that is directly attached to the compressors pump rotor using a 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. Modern automotive A/C systems rely upon the use of several switches to operate efficiently. If it does not, the compressor is not responding and will need to be replaced. The a/c clutch normally uses a 10A fuse. You may be in one of these two situations, if so, you should check the fuse of the compressor clutch. Goodmorning, the ac compressor on my ford escape is not engaging. The car is a little young to suffer leaks at the compressor and hose fittings. Another possible cause could be leaks in the AC system. Marvel Mystery Oil vs Seafoam: Which is The Better Choice? If there is a ground wire, you should also check the ground. When the engine is on. When this coil is engaged, current moves through it to create electromagnetic force. Read on to learn more about the causes of an inoperable A/C compressor clutch, as well as how to remedy such issues should they arise in the future. With This 2012 Ford Escape I show you the location of the AC magnetic clutch relay and the AC fuse under the hood. Check your owners manual to find the fuse for the AC clutch. Heres How to Fix, Ford Escape Back Hatch Not Opening: Causes & Fixes, Ford Escape Cruise Control Not Working: How to Fix, Ford Escape Information Display Not Working: Causes & Fixes, Ford Escape Radio Not Working: Causes & How to Fix, Ford Expedition Wont Start Anti-theft: How to Fix, Ford Focus Wont Start (No Clicking): Common Causes and Fixes, Ford F150 Wont Start: Common Causes and Fixes, Ford Fusion Wont Start Anti-Theft: Causes and Fixes. 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. Mechanic's Assistant: Have you checked the Freon level? Notes: A/C install kit, Includes: Filter Drier, Expansion Valve, Compressor Oil, Necessary O-Rings and Gaskets, Cap and Valve Kit. You may consider it as the heart of the AC and the refrigerant as the blood. natedawg8t6 Do you have 12V out of the pressure switch on the red/yellow wire? 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). Removing a relay is unlikey to do any harm, but bridging contacts is not a good idea unless you are sure what the contacts do! 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. . You can also examine this for noise and smell issues. Get a click, we can start troublshooting wires. In this guide, we cover the different problems you might encounter. Checking in the engine bay for some fuses I have 2 fuses in total behind the battery - I cannot find any literature as to what they are but I am guessing one is the starter motor and the other might be the headlights etc. 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. Ford Fiesta 2013 Clear editor. This is to maintain system pressure and keep the seals from drying out. 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? 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? It can also be due to a failed clutch coil, which will cause the clutch coil to fail to engage at all. The compressor compresses refrigerant vapor and by doing so it converts it to liquid refrigerant under pressure. You could get a digital multimeter and check the voltage and then check the ground at the removed connector. Enginge Shut Down Stop Safly Now This Messige Come Every 10 To 20 Minute. Ships from and sold by Parts Geek LLC. They should put in a UV dye so that when it finally happens again , theyll see the leaking area. If the pulley and the clutch are both spinning it shows that the clutch is engaged with the pulley correctly. The power going to the AC compressor relay is going to be fused, so check that fuse while youre at it as well. Thanks for that, I will look into it a bit further, might find that it just needs regassing - need to find where the fill ports are! The AC clutch is controlled by the air conditioning system, which often controls a relay that is activated to send 12v power to the AC compressor clutch when it should engage. . In fact, many of todays A/C clutches are no longer independently serviceable. 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. I also talk about other relays that you ca. You should check the following areas before making any new fixes. Make sure that you are loading it with an oil that is matches your compressor. Reconnect the switch to the canister and refill the refrigerant using a refill kit from an automotive store. 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 . Prices may vary depending on your location. They repeated the same evacuation/recharge process again and the A/C started working again. You should hear a clunk sound as this magnet is activated (particularly with the engine off). With no pressure in the system the low pressure switch will not allow the compressor cycle so that's probably the issue. Started Sunday at 04:53 PM, By Do this quick check to know why. If the only rotating part is the pulley, then the clutch fails to run. Started 14 hours ago, By That happened last Fall, so we waited until this spring to try again. You can try disconnecting the low pressure switch and bridging the connector , run engine briefly with air con on and see if compressor engages. RELATED: Car AC Not Blowing Cold Air? Inspect with the Engine Off . Mine blows very cold, no matter how hot outside it is. Started August 12, 2021, By Bypass the 3 wire AC pressure switch through B1 to B4. The #1 Ford Explorer enthusiast resource for over 25 years! Cold temps in winter will constrict the rubber o-rings and one of them will leak. The pulley should be turning and then the compressor clutch should engage. RELATED: 5 Signs of a Bad AC Compressor Clutch (& Replacement Cost). The AC relay (number 20) reads good voltage to the relay outlet. Thanks Ken. Martian. Mark helpful 55,895 Tracy answered 8 years ago Something else is the problem. Even with the key off, treat them like they can still come on. Cold air started blowing again! If you turn on the AC and immediately hear a rattling noise, there are a few potential causes: Compressor: If your AC compressor is beginning to fail, it can make a rattling noise. Check other compressor parts: The condenser . There are shops that specialize in A/C systems. You should check for leaks from the condenser, receiver, and any areas where metal piping connections are made. the receiver/dryer is running short of liquid. These include low or excess refrigerant and insufficient oil. That is why the pressure switch is there. It could even be missing entirely without you noticing if it is an independent belt. 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. -or-. 1861cp The clutch is not getting a signal to turn on. Started 15 hours ago, By Failure of any type within this unit can prevent a clutchs coil from being energized. Need the manual, really. See the FAQ in the AC section for the steps to adjust the clutch gap. If freon is low, it won't engage. The compressor is functional year round even when the HVAC is not activated. Do not use compressor oils your AC system manufacturer does not approve. Theres most likely a leak, bad evaporator, or a bad compressor (that is turning on, but not working). In some cases, the wiring may be fine but the harness is the problem. Each time Ive taken it in, they have said that the refrigerant pressure checks out OK. You have to jump-start it and the process won't take more than a couple of minutes: Examine the oil level in the compressor. With PAG 46. You dont want to turn the pulley where it is attached to the belt. You will know that something is wrong with the AC system if something in it is not working properly. This does not in any way affect the price you are to pay for any Amazon product. 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. If it looks good, its time to move on to testing the relay and seeing if you can manually get the compressor to turn on. Has it been verified there are no leaks at the service port fittings? Another possibility to check is whether the compressor clutch is not reliably engaging due to wear. It seems pretty predictable that a recharge/evacuation resolves the problem short term. Check if this fits your 2012 Ford Escape. 2-3 weeks later, we saw the same puff and then no cold air. Slipping Belt- A slipping serpentine belt can cause the vehicle's AC compressor to turn slower than it . Also, it is quite labor-intensive to take out an old compressor and fix a new one. I Am Seking Problem Stop Safely. 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