Typical - we get some decent weather, and my air con stops working.

On Monday while driving on the motorway there is a distinct humming (almost grinding) from the under the bonnet. I pulled into a services and investigated it. The noise stopped when the car was out of gear but I couldn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary under the hood (I'm no mechanic...)

So when I got home I booked it in, but couldn't get it in before next Tuesday.

Tuesday morning I started the air con to see if had stopped - and while the blowers work the air con is clearly not working as the air is hot with no difference between air con off and on. The fan starts as normal when the air con is activated.

Any ideas as to what the problem might be? I'm assuming my air con system is covered by the warranty.

If the aircon is not working the most likely cause is a leak of the gas, once it reaches a certain level it won't turn on to prevent damage to this system.

How often do you use your air con? You need to make sure it's regular (even over winter, I use mine a least once a week) as this lubricates the system and will make sure the seals do not dry out and crack causing leaks.

Unfortunately [speaking from experience] Ford will not cover gas under warranty. If my diagnosis is correct I hate to say it but Kwik Fit are usually the best for air con recharges. Although if there is a leak you want to go somewhere that uses a dye in the gas to check for this otherwise you'll get the same problem later down the line.

Thanks Nath.

My air con is used regularly as I too am aware of the fact that it should be used regularly.

The groaning/clicking/grinding made me think perhaps something mechanical.

It does sound like the compressor may have seized up. There may not have been sufficient PAG oil in the aircon system.

Thanks also to you btmaldon.

My car has just been serviced - is the air con normally checked during a service?

New compressor, re-gassed and all under warranty. Result.

Im glad its sorted and especially as it was under warranty. You can enjoy the hot weather once again.

Im glad its sorted and especially as it was under warranty. You can enjoy the hot weather once again.

Or lack of hot weather as the case may be now...standard british bank holiday weather this weekend apparently <_<