Hi folks. On my focus 2008, 1.6 diesel, air conditioner went overheated, as big smoke was pouring off it. 

So I've got replacement from scrapyard. Replaced.. just about goin to garage for Freon to fil in. 

So question is, I was trying to switch it on, but light on A/C button did not go on, so clutch on air conditioner didn't engaged. 

Is that because system have no pressure? Or that could be air conditioner problem? Wires are connected, and air con unit is very same by part number. 

 

Thanks. 

AC system will not run with out gas pressure to protect the compressor.

It would be far safer and very wise to take the car to somewhere like Kwikfit to get the system regasssed. It is not just a simple matter of plugging in a can of gas especially when the system is totally empty.

10 minutes ago, unofix said:

AC system will not run with out gas pressure to protect the compressor.

It would be far safer and very wise to take the car to somewhere like Kwikfit to get the system regasssed. It is not just a simple matter of plugging in a can of gas especially when the system is totally empty.

Ok. Tanks for your answer. Just wanted to confirm, that it won't turn on due empty system.

Yes, that's the plan, go to air conditioning specialist to re-gas the system. 

Hopefully it just needs filling with gas, but just a heads up… I used to own an old beater MK1 Focus with an AC leak which would stop blowing cold air roughly 2 weeks after a re-gas, however the AC light would still come on if I switched the AC on even with no gas in the system, it just wouldn’t blow cold air.

OP, do you know what actually went wrong with the old compressor?

If the clutch failed, the clutch and belt would soon get hot and smoke. This is the less serious fault.

If the compressor itself seized, you could have a far worse problem. Metal particles may have got into the system as it was failing. It is impossible to flush them all out. The only cure is to replace the whole AC system which is likely not cost effective.

A used compressor will soon fail again if the system is contaminated with metal particles.

3 hours ago, Hooded said:

Hopefully it just needs filling with gas, but just a heads up… I used to own an old beater MK1 Focus with an AC leak which would stop blowing cold air roughly 2 weeks after a re-gas, however the AC light would still come on if I switched the AC on even with no gas in the system, it just wouldn’t blow cold air.

My Mk2 did the same. The AC system had failed before I got it and had never been repaired.

The light on the button would come on when pressed, but the compressor clutch would not engage as there was very little gas left.

 

they don't have clutches - most cars gave up the clunk and run flat out guzzeling fuel compressors, circa 2004

her 57 plate zetec climate has the modern variable rate compressor - this switches a valve on the gas flow silently cutting in, and the amount of engine power drawn flexes by a swash plate varying the compressor workload - based on temp setpoint, throttle position etc. - so hills, pulling away from rest, or hard acceleration winds back the AC to let the car make power....