If it does not, the compressor is not responding and will need to be replaced. No, if the Freon level is too low, it will not engage the AC clutch. Thank you so much for the feedback thus far. 2. Here is to hoping its a 60 cent o-ring. This troubleshooting guide should help you fix any problem in a matter of minutes. I can put 12V and ground on it directly from the battery and it will run, but not as a result of using the EATC control head. However, it normally makes more sense to put in a new AC compressor. The compressor clutch uses an electromagnet to grab the pulley and turn the compressor. Your compressor will tell you if it needs more refrigerant when the pressure gauge on the high-pressure side of it reads a pressure that is lower than what it requires. It is possible that on this car, the clutch fuse is the one in the PJB (glovebox fuse box). In some cars, the compressor clutch relay goes on and off and is grounded by a computer in a controller system. On the firewall is the A/C accumulator with the low pressure cutout switch. 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. Inspect low coolant content or pressure. Free In-Store or Curbside Pick Up. TomsFocus 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. With PAG 46. Mechanic's Assistant: Have you checked the Freon level? However, when the AC pressure switch goes bad, warm air might be all you get. If this clutch doesnt grab, the AC compressor will not turn on. Cooling, Heating, Ventilation & A/C - AC Compressor clutch cycles on & off? 2012 Ford Escape 3.0 last week my AC went out! Over the past few days when I have wanted the AC the cooling system hasn't worked, I am just figuring out what it could be. By Basically youre creating instant fog from the high dew point, saturated air, and sudden cold. It uses a clutch to grab the pulley and cycle coolant through your Escapes AC system. That happened last Fall, so we waited until this spring to try again. Add oil if the level is below the normal point. Started 13 hours ago, By Is the Fan behind the condenser working? Your link has been automatically embedded. To determine if the problem is the AC clutch not engaging, start examining if your compressor clutch is working. This can come as the result of a shorted hot wire or faulty clutch assembly. ), P2004 Code: IMRC Issue (Symptoms, Causes, and Fixes). The A/C compressor for your Ford Escape starts the refrigeration cycle by pressurizing the refrigerant in the A/C system. Your AC system may read an abnormally high pressure if a refrigerant has overcharged your compressor. Use a wiring diagram to ensure you have the right wire. sambooka Using an ammeter, check Gray/White wire for current draw at A/C clutch coil connector. You could hear a hissing sound if it is not working correctly. 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. Related: Symptoms of a Bad Car A/C Condenser. They checked for leaks but found none. 2. Its located next to an electromagnetic coil. #2. Ill also update when I get a resolution to the problem. We only use the commissions thereby generated to maintain the site. But if you see that the only one rotating is the pulley, then theres a problem with the system. 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). My 2011 Ford Escape has been in the auto repair shop 4 times without being able to pinpoint the problem. Get it Jan 26 - Feb 2. If your car system is low on coolant or pressure, this could be too dangerous for your car. Any good shop should be able to trace this down. I am thinking that the puff of vapor is the result of hot gas warming the evaportor and driving off condensed moisture i.e. Murray Compressor - New - 58035. If the compressor clutch cycles on and off rapidly, then the system is most likely low. Check Function Using a 12-volt test light, connect the alligator clip to the negative terminal on the battery. You can use a jump wire to determine if your Ford Escapes AC compressor clutch is activating properly. Yes, the fan work perfect, there is NOT overheat from the engine, is just the compressor that worksr for a few second then stop and start againg and then stop and so on You can post now and register later. 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. Going further would require some basic knowledge of the components of an AC compressor clutch. If there is no power in the fuse or relay then the main wiring must be checked. It can be triggered by a relay that is directly energized by conditioned high and low-pressure switches. 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? Air is cold. From Heat To Cool. Being that the clutch compressor is just a few feet off of the road, it can accrue wiring damage over the years. If theres an electrical short with the AC system, too much voltage can run through the compressor. Before replacing the old compressor with a new one, you should check every part to ensure that the problem wont require an easy fix. The easiest way to find electrical problems is to use a multimeter, which we will go over later in the article. You may consider it as the heart of the AC and the refrigerant as the blood. That is RIDICULOUS, Cheryl. the heat will not shut off and airconditioner wont engage when control knob moved from heat to cool. RECALLS! Perhaps someone can help get to bottom of this. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Or they charge it, then cant find a leak? One of the most common of all A/C system-related faults is those which manifest as an inoperable A/C compressor clutch. 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. ), 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. If the pulley and the clutch are both spinning it shows that the clutch is engaged with the pulley correctly. 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 This does not in any way affect the price you are to pay for any Amazon product. The Best Torque Wrench Digital or Dial Type? DaveOM Tiny bits of metal can clog your AC condenser. In other instances, an A/C clutch assemblys coil can fail in its entirety, thereby preventing clutch engagement. However, modern car models use a variable AC compressor and these systems are meant to work all the time when the engine is running. Fv 27, 2023 . 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. The bypass you tried relies on the fuse listed to have power to the relay. RELATED: 4 Symptoms of a Bad AC Pressure Switch (High or Low). 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. Get a click, we can start troublshooting wires. Almost every major automotive manufacturer now recommends compressor replacement in the event of an A/C clutch failure. Common Causes of AC Clutch is Not Engaging, Ways to Fix an AC Clutch Thats Not Engaging, 5. 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. Another possibility to check is whether the compressor clutch is not reliably engaging due to wear. The last thing you want to deal with is a hot car cabin. Ford Escape. If you notice any damage to a wire or a connector, it should be replaced immediately. This car AC element helps blow the air to cool it down. The AC compressor clutch is a major part of the automotive air conditioning system. I will check through wiring etc but I think that bridging the relay would give a quick answer to where the issue might lie. By If current draw is 2.5. Let us now learn how to manually engage the AC compressor clutch. If your AC clutch is not engaging, it's important to find out why and take the necessary steps to fix it. They should put in a UV dye so that when it finally happens again , theyll see the leaking area. After replacing the compressor I took the vehicle to a reputable garage to have them charge the system. You can jump-start the clutch to see if it will get moving manually. When the engine is on. If it engages, the clutch gap is too wide. We took it back to the mechanic. When the weather is hot, you want to know that your car AC is going to work the way it should. Get at least 20% off selected Ford parts on eBay View parts on eBay now! Started December 2, 2020, By If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The same applies if the freon pressure is too high. m1tch, Started August 26, 2012, By On 7/22/2016 at 5:26 AM, Tdci-Peter said: 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. ANY good A/C shop will solve this riddle in short orderits all they do. Just like any clutch, its possible that it has simply worn out. Itll often be located by electric fans. Another possible cause could be leaks in the AC system. - My E350's AC was not working (clutch not engaging) so I added two cans (22 oz.) Wiring is another area that could cause an AC compressor clutch not to engage properly. If the clutch kicks on at first I doubt it is that. 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. During this process, a technician will remove the old refrigerant from the A/C system. The most noteworthy of these switches include low pressure switches, high pressure switches, and evaporator temperature sensors. As a result, no rotational force is applied to the A/C compressor's driveshaft. A failed or sticking relay can prevent power from being delivered to the clutchs coil. Ensure that your engine is turned off when performing this inspection. Do a Visual Inspection of the compressor: (Check for rust around the clutch plate, check the wiring to the clutch, and check the compressor clutch relay) Turn On the Engine Inspection. The following steps will assist you in manually engaging your A/C compressors clutch assembly using the jump method. 2-3 weeks later, we saw the same puff and then no cold air. Warm Air is Blowing. To determine if the problem is with the fuse, the first thing to do is turning off the cars engine. Looking for a good online repair manual? Seems to work good when outside temps are below 80 degrees. This action will cause the fuse to blow. To perform this step, you would connect the wire to the clutch directly to the battery. However, this is seldom the case today. Do it somewhere quiet. So they are saying there is no leak. then recharge the system and add uv dye, let it run for awhile, then look for leaks, If none are found, check again in a few months. Started 14 hours ago, By Thanks Ken. Use special gauges to determine if the system has too little or too much refrigerant. Using an ultraviolet (UV) leak detection light, inspect thecondenser near the receiver/dryer cap for the presence of dye. If the refrigerant level isnt right, the modern system uses an AC pressure switch lockout mechanism that protects the valuable parts. I'm not kidding about this. Started 12 hours ago, By The material or media contained in these forums are submitted by the general public and is NOT endorsed by Ford or Ford Motor Company in any way. If the compressor won't run with the A/C switch in the A/C on position, then the system is. Again it will need to be vacuumed and refilled. 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. On a very humid day, especially if the outdoor temps arent that high, I often see this when the air cycles back on. Common Causes (& How to Fix). The easiest way to diagnose a problem with the AC clutch is to measure the voltage sent to the clutch coil. If there is a ground wire, you should also check the ground. $285.95. But this is just a symptom. 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. Sounds to me like you have a leak somewhere. The clutch is operated by an electromagnetic switch in most vehicles. If nothin happens, ac clutch bad. Debris in the system will quickly plug the tiny orifices in the system. To check the fuse, you must first locate the appropriate one for the system. Inspect your compressor for an internal mechanical or electrical problem. Dec 25, 2006. Mechanic's Assistant: What year is your Escape? 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. $62.21. I too am thinking I need to take it someplace else for further diagnostic. 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. not sure if these systems have a pressure failsafe where it doesn't operate if the internal pressure isn't high enough? Enginge Shut Down Stop Safly Now This Messige Come Every 10 To 20 Minute. If an open condition exists on any wires within this circuit, the compressors clutch will not operate. Started 19 hours ago, By It creates an electromagnetic force, which pulls the coil towards the friction plate. I appreciate the help and sorry for me english it's very rusty. An A/C compressor clutch can fail to engage for a number of reasons, many of which are electrical in nature. RELATED: 5 Signs of a Bad AC Compressor Clutch (& Replacement Cost). Seems that my mechanic does not know what else to try. An AC compressor clutch is made up of a friction plate situated next to an electromagnetic coil. Route the wires to the car battery. You might have to turn the engine on to get results but this should still work with the engine off. (2012 - 2023) Ford Fusion Battery Sizes & Specs (2006 - 2023) Ford Ranger Battery Sizes & Specs (2000 - 2023) SEE, I think it's a 15 pin plug and two wires change on the plug fro 95 to. -or-. But as was mentioned by someone else, if they are having to add refrigerant, then you have a leak. But, I have no reason to think it will last. Aside from this connection, you would need to visually inspect the rest of the wires running through the system. It should be replaced if not functioning properly. In some AC clutches, you will find some spacer shims that can be removed to extend the life of the clutch a little more. 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.