Hi all,

Focus mk3 1.6 TDCI Econetic (Dec-2013) AC problem (Normal AC, not the fancy one)

So a few days ago i drove home from work (15mins motorway 5 mins town driving) apart from i stopped at the bank and switched it off for 5 mins, when jumping back in the car after the bank the AC no longer blows cold air, everything else seems ok.
I live in Germany and for the last 2 weeks it has been very hot weather 40°C/100°f, so the AC has been on most of the time. I have had the car 9 months so this is my first summer with it.
So at the weekend i took it to get the AC checked out, the diagnostic machine showed that it was over filled with refrigerant, it should have 540g in it, but it had over 710g in it,
Anyway the refrigerant was removed, and the system tested for leaks, all was fine, so new refrigerant was put back in to the system.
Still not working, he can only tell me that the compressor is not spinning, as the compressor clutch is not activating.
The AC switch lights up when pressed but the cars computer is not sending the signal to the AC clutch,
He said, as it was over filled, and extreme hot weather for us here, that the pressure sensor could of broken. but the computer port in the car is not showing any fails in the system.

I am looking for advice on what to check next or what you think the problem is, i have no problem working on cars and replacing parts myself, but i just need an idea on where to start with the AC.

What i will say, is that the auto stop start system seemed to stop working at roughly the same time as the AC, but 2 or 3 days later that is now working again as normal. Coincidence??
.

Any advice please...

Thanks

Tony

You can bypass the switch fairly easily with a jumper wire between the pins.  If the compressor clutch kicks in with the switch bypassed, then the switch is at fault.  If not, you have another problem.  

 

Hi Tony,

I have the same model Focus with what sounds like the same problem. Did you have any luck?

 I replaced my ac compressor (with a used one purchased on eBay, not ideal I know) which fixed the problem for approximately 25miles!

I need to spend a bit of time diagnosing it properly this time but popped into Ford this morning to get a price of a new compressor, expansion valve and receiver drier... £960! 

I’d be interested to hear if you found anything since your original post. 

Chris