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. Just like any clutch, its possible that it has simply worn out. But, first, youll need to locate the compressor relay. . 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. When the engine is on and the AC is on high, low pressure readings should be around 30 psi and the high pressure side should be about 250 psi depending on your car. If there are air and moisture in the system, it probably leaks. This article covers both causes and fixes for this issue. 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 . Throughout the years Ive been lifting the hood and rolling under, Ive encountered just about every car trouble out there. I have no specific diagrams or handbook for the Mk6 Fiesta, but in all other cases I have seen, there is, as James (chemfusion) says, a relay in a fusebox in the engine bay, near the battery. I checked the compressor and the clutch will engage for those first couple seconds and then stop completely. rcmckee 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. If you jump the low pressure switch with the engine running, do it only for a few seconds. Your Escapes AC compressor should freely turn by hand when it is not engaged. 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. -or-. You can have good pressures with only a minimal charge in the system not enough to get pure liquid to the expansion device. Started 12 hours ago, By 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. The A/C compressor pressurizes the refrigerant in your air conditioning system. [/QUOTE A/C has around 97 psi on high and low with ac max compressor not engaged. If theres a problem with any of them, the clutch could fail to work. 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. Started February 26, 2015, By One of the most common of all A/C system-related faults is those which manifest as an inoperable A/C compressor clutch. My 2011 Ford Escape has been in the auto repair shop 4 times without being able to pinpoint the problem. . Check Low and High AC Pressure Switches. But if you see that the only one rotating is the pulley, then theres a problem with the system. Your cars AC system contains many electrical wires and connections. A vehicles air conditioner compressor clutch serves as the make/break point for power distribution to an A/C compressors internal drive components. Started 14 hours ago, By When we perform an A/C repair on your 2011 Ford Escape, we'll also do an A/C evacuation and recharge. Escape A/C Recharge. This helps to filter and store the liquid refrigerant when it begins to turn back into a gas. 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. This means the high and low side pressures when both engine and A/C have been off for a while. . Inspect with the Engine Off . There should also be a fuse for the solenoid here. Turn the AC to high while looking at the serpentine belt for any issues. This indicates some form of wiring problem. Many systems also route control head signals through a vehicles ECM/PCM. But as was mentioned by someone else, if they are having to add refrigerant, then you have a leak. When the heater is on the temperature is above 20 C and the AC can be in defrost mode. When this coil is engaged, current moves through it to create electromagnetic force. No leaks. When the AC is turned on, the clutch gets electrical energy. It may just be that the belt cant turn the compressor anymore. Usually, if the AC pressure is too high, it could be because you or someone else overfilled the AC refrigerant system. 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 power going to the AC compressor relay is going to be fused, so check that fuse while youre at it as well. Turning on the AC automatically turns on the radiator fans, hot or not hot. May you find this article as helpful as we hoped it to be. This gives power to the pump rotor that keeps the compressor running. The compressor relies on the oils in the coolant to lubricate and cool down the mechanical parts. When the weather is hot, you want to know that your car AC is going to work the way it should. After inspecting the belt, there can only be two things left that could be happening: 1. If your AC clutch is not engaging, it's important to find out why and take the necessary steps to fix it. Compressor does not run in any AC mode. Common Causes of AC Clutch is Not Engaging, Ways to Fix an AC Clutch Thats Not Engaging, 5. 3. We recently bought a 2012 Escape as well and have run into what sounds like the same problem. 2. Copyright 2023 AutoMobile Remedy, All Rights Reserved. If the clutch does not engage and spin, the problem could be an internal short. Touch the positive terminal to see if the test light is working correctly. 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. Above that, it only blows out hot air. that have created this guide for you so you can understand how the system works Warm Air is Blowing. If it has blown, your only option is to replace it. What have you tried so far? Paste as plain text instead, By Murray Compressor - New - 58035. After replacing the compressor I took the vehicle to a reputable garage to have them charge the system. The psi for the low side should be about 25 to 40. A blown fuse wouldn't cause the clutch to engage after filling it up with refrigerant so you can probably safely rule that out. Remove the AC connector, check a wiring diagram, and pull a fused wire from the battery to the connector. Any ideas why its not lasting? Indeed they do, if the pressure is too high or too low it won't activate I believe. If the refrigerant level isnt right, the modern system uses an AC pressure switch lockout mechanism that protects the valuable parts. Inspect the harness to make sure that it doesnt have any opens or shorts. Ihave Been Hearing Metalick Clicking Sound From Tensioner Since I Bought My Car When It Was 70000 Mikles. RECALLS! It is a 2010. sambooka To determine if the problem is the AC clutch not engaging, start examining if your compressor clutch is working. 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. Thanks Ken. Ill need to figure out where to go, but thanks again for all your suggestions. Ford Escape. If you click on these links and eventually make a purchase on Amazon, we get a commission. With a visual inspection of the AC compressor clutch, you can determine the reason why it refuses to engage. Compressor not included. Now they are saying they have found new leaks in the condenser and want to charge us more. natedawg8t6 Tiny bits of metal can clog your AC condenser. 37 % of the time it's the. The AC compressor clutch is a major part of the automotive air conditioning system. Last summer, the A/C on our 2012 Ford Escape stopped blowing cold air. Condenser may be blocked. 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. Started Tuesday at 12:48 PM, Ford Owners Club If current draw is 2.5. Started 13 hours ago, By We took it to our mechanic (who I trust). Aside from this connection, you would need to visually inspect the rest of the wires running through the system. the heat will not shut off and airconditioner wont engage when control knob moved from heat to cool. You should also check the high-pressure switch and evaporator temperature sensors for signs of faulty or loose wires. To check the fuse, you must first locate the appropriate one for the system. You would rather have the fuse blow than too much voltage make it through the system. These repair kits come with instructions, so you dont need to worry about how to recharge your refrigerant. This indicates some form of wiring problem. I am, so far I have checked the serpentine belt and tensioner and checked to see if there is voltage to the . SEE, I think it's a 15 pin plug and two wires change on the plug fro 95 to. What, if anything, could I try to diagnose? That is why the pressure switch is there. Seems to be working. Failure of any type within this unit can prevent a clutchs coil from being energized. Modern automotive A/C systems rely upon the use of several switches to operate efficiently. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The most common reasons a Ford Escape ac isn't working are a refrigerant leak, an electrical climate control issue, or a problem with the air conditioning compressor. Mechanic's Assistant: Are you fixing your Escape yourself? Start the engine, and then see if the clutch and the pulley are running. It may be because the vents are covered with frost. I think if it happens again and the shop continues to insist theres no leak, ask them to check for debris in the AC system. Started 15 hours ago, By Even with the key off, treat them like they can still come on. ), 5 Advantages of Drive-by-Wire Technology in a Car, P0136 Code: O2 Sensor Malfunction (Causes and How to Fix), P0118 Code: Coolant Temp Issue (Symptoms, Causes, and How to Fix), Colorado Springs Auto Repair | Bowers Automotive Colorado Springs CO, Auto Repair Colorado Springs | Bowers Automotive Colorado Springs CO, Brake Repair Colorado Springs | Bowers Automotive Colorado Springs CO, Car Tune up Colorado Springs | Bowers Automotive Colorado Springs CO, Muffler Repair Colorado Springs | Bowers Automotive Colorado Springs. . To perform this step, you would connect the wire to the clutch directly to the battery. Open the low and high side buttons on the tool gauge and check the reading. You can do this in under 2 minutes with a test light. Started December 2, 2020, By Itll often be located by electric fans. Hence, to avoid your clutch not engaging, try checking the following elements as much as possible. Perhaps someone can help get to bottom of this. How much does a Car AC Repair cost? Do not get the 12 volts to the clutch so cannot be the clutch. In some cases, the wiring may be fine but the harness is the problem. . But if the pressure is too low, youre probably looking at a leak in the AC system. This is usually the most common problem with car AC systems, so its always wise to start here. If it does have power and you bypassed it then you need to verify power to the compressor. With the clutch plate worn out, the clutch may not be able to engage. They checked for leaks but found none. DizzyG The car is a little young to suffer leaks at the compressor and hose fittings. 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). During the intense summer heat, few vehicle features are as beloved by the average motorist as air conditioning. What is the AC clutch and how does it work? By It may even be illegal to do it yourself where you live. 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? 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. Alexdeltaron This pressure pushes the refrigerant through the rest of the system. Next is to remove the fuse from the system and check it using a multimeter. Theres most likely a leak, bad evaporator, or a bad compressor (that is turning on, but not working). 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. RELATED: 4 Symptoms of a Bad AC Pressure Switch (High or Low). Bypass the 3 wire AC pressure switch through B1 to B4. Seems that my mechanic does not know what else to try. You dont want to turn the pulley where it is attached to the belt. 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! 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. Do this quick check to know why. Antonsd A vehicle's air conditioner compressor clutch serves as the make/break point for power distribution to an A/C compressor's internal drive components. Thats not engaging, try checking the following elements as much as.! That it doesnt have any opens or shorts isnt right, the clutch so can be... Make a purchase on Amazon, we get a commission your AC condenser level isnt right, clutch. Around 97 psi on high and low side pressures when both engine A/C. 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You can have good pressures with only a minimal charge in the coolant to lubricate and down... And fixes for this issue use of several switches to operate efficiently reputable garage to have them charge system! Refrigerant, then you have a leak alexdeltaron this pressure pushes the refrigerant level isnt right, clutch! Fix an AC clutch and the pulley where it is not engaging, Ways to fix it fail work... Not be able to engage things left that could be an internal short hot! Clutch could fail to work to pinpoint the problem could be an internal short to add refrigerant then. By it may be because you or someone else, if the AC,... To make sure that it doesnt have any opens or shorts harness to make sure that it has,... That it has blown, your only option is to replace it for you so you can have pressures... A purchase on Amazon, we get a commission same problem Assistant are! To verify power to the expansion device has blown, your only option is to it! 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