HELP AIR CON DRIVING ME NUTS!

[FocusRuss]

Hi all,

Is there anyone out there that can help me retain my sanity!

I have just brought a 2001 MK1 Ford Focus 1.6 LX ZETEC SE.

The air con worked very very intermittently, so I took it to quikfit for a regas, and they told me it had plenty and the reason the aircon wasnt working was the AC Compressor clutch was not engaging, he tapped the clutch with a rod and it started working...ice cold. This lasted until we used the cabin AC switch to turn it off and then on again. it stopped working.

Today I wiggled the two wires going into the two pin connector which comes off the compressor with the engine running, AC switch light on constant and cabin air recirculating switch light on constant.....low and behold the AC Clutch engaged, I used the switch to turn it on and off and it worked... I turned the engine off and on and tried again...not working! aghhh....wiggled it a few more times and it worked occasionally.

I thought bingo bad wire/connector and then after wiggling the wire again the AC switch light started to flash?, worse still the recirculation button light when pressed turned off immediately and turned off the AC switch light!...AC not worked since!

I have since checked the AC relay in the fuse box by swopping the light relay...no change.

I have also been to the breakers and cut out and replaced the two pin wire connector.. no change....

Have I blown something?

CAN ANYONE HELP !!! OR SHALL I JUST OPEN THE WINDOWS!!!!

THX

[mintalkin]

have you checked the fuse?

[FocusRuss]

Hi Mintalking, I just checked the fuse box behind the glove....thx!.....A 7.5 amp had blown and the AC is now fully working. The two pin connector and wire was obviously faulty.

Out of interest for anyone having a similiar problem, when I went to the breakers to get the connector and wire, the first two I looked at had had repairs to the wire, the third was knackered and the last luckily ok. It is obviously a common fault.

THANKS

FocusRuss

[mintalkin]

glad you got it sorted, you could put some silicone sealent around the outside of the connecter to help keep water ingress out

[FocusRuss]

glad you got it sorted, you could put some silicone sealent around the outside of the connecter to help keep water ingress out

agghhhhh.......Drove the car to work and AC stopped after five minutes driving. I tested the connector and switch and 12v are getting to the compressor, sprayed wd40 in the socket and left it, when I came back AC worked again although despite switch sending juice the clutch engaged with varying time delay, from instant to two seconds?....I then drove home with AC working for five minutes then it stopped aghhhh...anyone got any ideas, does the compressor clutch stick through wear..?

Is there any switches,sensors elsewhere which might been causing the clutch to cut out?

Russ

Will try silicon on connector thx

[mintalkin]

it could be that you have a knackerd compressor i think you need to go to a specialist to get it checked also get the gas rechecked at onother garage if you can because low pressure could cause intermittant faults

[drewtiss]

Every time I got this problem I often check the fuse panel first then the compressor next. I always end up blowing several fuse. If I apply some silicone sealent how would it help in my system? Thanks!

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[mintalkin]

if water is getting into the electrical joint and causing problems sealant around the outside of the switch should stop the water getting in

[rich8100]

new here but used this thread to look at mine. Just sorted my air con out after a lot of issues. Re gassed it myself, I'm not a novice to mechanics so wasn't a problem for me to do it. But I did have a problem getting the compressor to work. So will start from beginning.

gassed up the system, the compressor wouldn't run at first as there is a low pressure sensor in it and had to give a squirt of gas to get it going. Filled the system and the clutch engaged. No cold air at first and took a while to work, revs didn't drop with comp going. Left it running for 5-10 mins then the clutch would kick in and out. Noticed the pressure gauge would drop to below 25 psi and pump would stop. Then when pressure went up pump would start. Fan on full, recirculating air on and air con on. Revs would drop when pump in then up when pump off. Started to drive me nuts. Changed relay with horn relay. In glove box second on along from big yellow one. They are the same relay so can just swap straight over. Still the same.

then I dropped the fan to 3. And presto pump staying on. Air con blowing very nice cold air. Left it on that for 5mins then turned it back up to 4 and again no problems at all.

the car was my step dads from new and the air con was only used twice. (tight git) so I'm guessing it took a while to get the gas going and the sensors to come back to life.

[artscot79]

the fact it worked shows its not the compressor shaft but theres lots of seals high and low pressure switches any one of them could be faulty a Mobil aircon specialist can check it all with gauges

[rich8100]

Taking mine in next week. Still not working right. Pressure drops. Pump stops, pressure up pumps works but drops very quickly and pump stops. And not long enough to get any gas around the system. Need yo.look into the pressure senors.