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Air conditioning - possible woes!
egyptiancotton
Posts: 525 Forumite
My car's air conditioning has been acting-up for a while. The only way I can describe it is this...
It used to switch itself off fully (complete shutdown) and then start back up X amount of time later and cycle fully on and off, and sometimes it wouldn't start back up at all. Ariazone in Port Talbot diagnosed the problem as the compressor clutch air gap was out of kilter, and a new compressor was required. They re-gassed the system and let me go on my way.
I took the car to Red Dragon Air Conditioning Ltd in Bridgend a few weeks ago. The director said the compressor was absolutely fine and does not need replacing. He checked the system pressure and it read within normal range. I had the system re-gassed.
The system still turns itself fully off and on. When I say 'fully', you can hear the car's engine fans turn off and the compressor shutting down.
Sometimes, the air conditioning won't turn on at all. I've started making a record about the issue. I've own a few Fiestas and none of them displayed any symptoms like this; once the air conditioning was turned on, it stayed on and you could hear the compressor clutch plates constantly cycling between engaging and disengaging (normal). The air conditioning system in my current Fiesta just seems to cycle fully on and off, which I've never heard of or experienced before.
The car is a 2008/08 Ford Fiesta Style Climate, 1.25 petrol, manual, 37k miles, standard manual blowers (not climate control).
Here is today's record:
19/12/2013
Left the house at 3:05pm in the car.
Heater on fully hot.
Air conditioning failed to switch on upon demand. The button was turned off and back on but the system still failed to switch on. The button was left engaged (LED light on) throughout the journey. The heater was adjusted between hot and cold but made no difference.
Car parked at 3:18pm but left running.
Air conditioning switched on itself at 3:18pm. The engine fans switched on and the compressor started. The air conditioning system cycled on and off (not the clutch engaging and disengaging when the system is working normally, but the system powered off fully with the fans and compressor turning off and back on fully) as follows, with roughly 30 seconds between on and off cycles:
Off 3:18pm.
On 3:19pm.
Off 3:20pm.
On 3:20pm.
Off 3:21pm.
On 3:21pm.
Off 3:22pm.
On 3:22pm.
Off 3:22pm.
On 3:23pm.
Off 3:23pm.
On 3:23pm.
Off 3:24pm.
On 3:24pm.
Off 3:24pm and back on, less than 5 seconds later.
Off 3:25pm and back on, less than 5 seconds later.
Off 3:25pm and back on, less than 5 seconds later.
Off 3:26pm and back on, less than 5 seconds later.
When the air conditioning system is working normally, the engine fans remain on and I can hear the compressor clutch plates engaging and disengaging in a cycle until I turn the air conditioning off.
19/12/2013
Left the house at 10:00pm in the car.
Heater on fully hot.
Air conditioning failed to switch on upon demand. The button was turned off and back on but the system still failed to switch on. The button was left engaged (LED light on) throughout the journey. The heater was adjusted between hot and cold but made no difference.
Car parked and turned off at 10:15pm.
Car turned on at 10:15pm. Air conditioning failed to switch on upon demand. The button was left engaged (LED light on). The heater was adjusted between hot and cold but made no difference.
Car parked at home at 10:23pm. The air conditioning still failed to turn on at this point.
The air conditioning button was turned off and on several times but the system still failed to switch on. The system eventually turned on itself at 10:24pm. The engine fans switched on and the compressor started. The air conditioning system cycled on and off (not the clutch engaging and disengaging when the system is working normally, but the system powered off fully with the fans and compressor turning off and back on fully) as follows, with roughly 30 seconds between on and off cycles:
Off 10:24pm.
On 10:25pm.
Off 10:25pm.
On 10:25pm.
Off 10:26pm.
On 10:26pm.
Off 10:27pm.
I'd be very grateful for any advice.
It used to switch itself off fully (complete shutdown) and then start back up X amount of time later and cycle fully on and off, and sometimes it wouldn't start back up at all. Ariazone in Port Talbot diagnosed the problem as the compressor clutch air gap was out of kilter, and a new compressor was required. They re-gassed the system and let me go on my way.
I took the car to Red Dragon Air Conditioning Ltd in Bridgend a few weeks ago. The director said the compressor was absolutely fine and does not need replacing. He checked the system pressure and it read within normal range. I had the system re-gassed.
The system still turns itself fully off and on. When I say 'fully', you can hear the car's engine fans turn off and the compressor shutting down.
Sometimes, the air conditioning won't turn on at all. I've started making a record about the issue. I've own a few Fiestas and none of them displayed any symptoms like this; once the air conditioning was turned on, it stayed on and you could hear the compressor clutch plates constantly cycling between engaging and disengaging (normal). The air conditioning system in my current Fiesta just seems to cycle fully on and off, which I've never heard of or experienced before.
The car is a 2008/08 Ford Fiesta Style Climate, 1.25 petrol, manual, 37k miles, standard manual blowers (not climate control).
Here is today's record:
19/12/2013
Left the house at 3:05pm in the car.
Heater on fully hot.
Air conditioning failed to switch on upon demand. The button was turned off and back on but the system still failed to switch on. The button was left engaged (LED light on) throughout the journey. The heater was adjusted between hot and cold but made no difference.
Car parked at 3:18pm but left running.
Air conditioning switched on itself at 3:18pm. The engine fans switched on and the compressor started. The air conditioning system cycled on and off (not the clutch engaging and disengaging when the system is working normally, but the system powered off fully with the fans and compressor turning off and back on fully) as follows, with roughly 30 seconds between on and off cycles:
Off 3:18pm.
On 3:19pm.
Off 3:20pm.
On 3:20pm.
Off 3:21pm.
On 3:21pm.
Off 3:22pm.
On 3:22pm.
Off 3:22pm.
On 3:23pm.
Off 3:23pm.
On 3:23pm.
Off 3:24pm.
On 3:24pm.
Off 3:24pm and back on, less than 5 seconds later.
Off 3:25pm and back on, less than 5 seconds later.
Off 3:25pm and back on, less than 5 seconds later.
Off 3:26pm and back on, less than 5 seconds later.
When the air conditioning system is working normally, the engine fans remain on and I can hear the compressor clutch plates engaging and disengaging in a cycle until I turn the air conditioning off.
19/12/2013
Left the house at 10:00pm in the car.
Heater on fully hot.
Air conditioning failed to switch on upon demand. The button was turned off and back on but the system still failed to switch on. The button was left engaged (LED light on) throughout the journey. The heater was adjusted between hot and cold but made no difference.
Car parked and turned off at 10:15pm.
Car turned on at 10:15pm. Air conditioning failed to switch on upon demand. The button was left engaged (LED light on). The heater was adjusted between hot and cold but made no difference.
Car parked at home at 10:23pm. The air conditioning still failed to turn on at this point.
The air conditioning button was turned off and on several times but the system still failed to switch on. The system eventually turned on itself at 10:24pm. The engine fans switched on and the compressor started. The air conditioning system cycled on and off (not the clutch engaging and disengaging when the system is working normally, but the system powered off fully with the fans and compressor turning off and back on fully) as follows, with roughly 30 seconds between on and off cycles:
Off 10:24pm.
On 10:25pm.
Off 10:25pm.
On 10:25pm.
Off 10:26pm.
On 10:26pm.
Off 10:27pm.
I'd be very grateful for any advice.
0
Comments
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What was the outside temperature? Check your manual and you may find the aircon wont work below 5 - 8 degrees. Figures will vary.
On my car its 5 degrees. Protects the aircon system from freezing.
Dodgy pressure sensor maybe. Did it work any better after being regassed?Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...0 -
forgotmyname wrote: »What was the outside temperature? Check your manual and you may find the aircon wont work below 5 - 8 degrees. Figures will vary.
On my car its 5 degrees. Protects the aircon system from freezing.
Dodgy pressure sensor maybe. Did it work any better after being regassed?
Very good point. I think it has been pretty cold outside but I'm sure it was playing up during the summer.
The manual does say that the air conditioning operates only when the temperature is above 4 degrees Celsius.
My car is supposed to show a red light by the speedo when the outside air temperature is below 1 degree Celsius and an amber light when the outside temperature is between 4 degrees Celsius and 1 degree Celsius. This light has never shown since I've had the car, and we've had some pretty icy mornings. Would this be related to the air conditioning issue?
It seemed to work better after a re-gas. It's only been a few weeks since it was re-gassed, unless there's a major leak. I've emailed Steven (director) at Red Dragon Air Conditioning Ltd to let him know the recent details and to ask if he can give the air conditioning system a thorough check.
Any idea why the system is turning itself fully on and off sometimes?0 -
my money is on a loose connection/dodgy pressure switch0
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This is great advice so far. I really appreciate it. I'm hoping the fix will be a cheap one!0
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It will turn off at low temperatures and when the pressure drops. It can also switch off if the main cooling fan shuts down.
The should be able to bypass the switch to see if it keeps running. They wont do this for long in case there is not enough refridgerant because it can damage the pump running dry.
Does it make any difference where the heat setting is? Hot, Middle or cold?
Can you do a dash diagnostic on the fiesta? MK6 or MK7?
On the Mondeo you hold the trip reset and turn the ignition onto position II. Hold until it says test then cycle through the settings.
It will do a dial sweep and illuminate every single bulb on the dash. So you can check wherther the red/amber temperature lights work.Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...0 -
Are we discussing Climate Control or a simple AC system here?
If it's full Climate Control then setting it to max heat will override any thermostat so it will act as if 'stuck'.
Same if you ask for max cold.
If it's full Climate Control you have, try it with the temperature control set just a tad below maximum.0 -
It important to clarify if its a C/C or a thermostat controlled system, they are very different, A standard system is easy the stat controls a relay which in turn switches both the fans and the clutch on and off, the pressure switches then protect the system from high pressure caused either by a blockage or overcharge, or low pressure which is from a leek.. Fords use an orifice valve and accumulator system rather than an expansion valve wich can be another cause of problems..... The stat is the only thing on a properly working system to cycle the compressor and fans.
CC systems are controlled by an ECU they blend the air and cycle the system continually, they are virtually non serviceable except for charging when the give issues.
I would guess your system is the first, without putting a set of gauges on there, its compleate guess work, also although its a hint there is no way off telling the weight of charge thats in the system, it could be compleatly wrong.
It could be a wire down to the compressor as suggested, take the wire off put a meter on it and it should be live whenever the fans are.
TBH this is about as far as you can go without a manifold gauge set, other causes and my suspicions if not the above would be overcharge, or a blocked or orifice tube, or even a stat that's causing the core to freeze.0 -
forgotmyname wrote: »It will turn off at low temperatures and when the pressure drops. It can also switch off if the main cooling fan shuts down.
The should be able to bypass the switch to see if it keeps running. They wont do this for long in case there is not enough refridgerant because it can damage the pump running dry.
Does it make any difference where the heat setting is? Hot, Middle or cold?
Can you do a dash diagnostic on the fiesta? MK6 or MK7?
On the Mondeo you hold the trip reset and turn the ignition onto position II. Hold until it says test then cycle through the settings.
It will do a dial sweep and illuminate every single bulb on the dash. So you can check wherther the red/amber temperature lights work.
I've noticed that my Fiesta Style Climate doesn't have the red/amber bulb slots. This picture shows the unit in a Fiesta Zetec Climate, which does have the bulbs. This is a picture of the unit in a Fiesta Style Climate. The bulbs are replaced by the stalks.
Adjusting the heater makes no difference. Although it has been sticking. Quickly adjusting it between fully hot and fully cold sorts it out.Are we discussing Climate Control or a simple AC system here?
If it's full Climate Control then setting it to max heat will override any thermostat so it will act as if 'stuck'.
Same if you ask for max cold.
If it's full Climate Control you have, try it with the temperature control set just a tad below maximum.
The car has a simple AC system.
I've had a response from Red Dragon Air Conditioning Ltd (who have been very good to me):
You will need to bring it in for us to check Lloyd. The system is supposed to switch off and on so it sounds like its doing what it is designed to do.
Try keeping a record of the 'set temperature' and the 'cabin temperature' as the a/c system will not operate if the cabin is either close to (within 1-2 degrees), at, or below the set temp.
Remember to turn the temperature control switch to fully hot, then back around to fully cold as it was sticking when you last visited.
The a/c system should not stay fully on. This is a fault condition and is usually associated with a lack of refrigerant but could also be due to other fault conditions.
If you are not happy, you will need to book it in with us for us to run some diagnostic checks on the system.
Update 2:
Left the house at 2:45pm in the car.
Heater on fully hot.
The AC turned on upon demand and stayed on throughout the journey. The AC compressor clutch engaged and disengaged as normal. The engine fans stayed on.
Car parked and turned off at 3:20pm.
The A/C worked perfectly yesterday:
21/12/2013
Journey 1
Town/rural journey.
Left the house at 4:59pm in the car.
Heater on half cold/half hot.
The AC turned on upon demand and stayed on throughout the journey. The AC compressor clutch engaged and disengaged as normal. The engine fans stayed on.
Car parked and turned off at 5:10pm.
Journey 2
Motorway journey.
Travelled in the car at 6:30pm.
Heater on fully hot.
The AC turned on upon demand and stayed on throughout the journey. The AC compressor clutch engaged and disengaged as normal. The engine fans stayed on.
Car parked and turned off at 7:40pm.
Journey 3
Motorway journey.
Travelled in the car at 11:30pm.
Heater on fully cold.
The AC turned on upon demand and stayed on throughout the journey. The AC compressor clutch engaged and disengaged as normal. The engine fans stayed on.
Car parked and turned off at 12:30am.0 -
Just a bump!0
This discussion has been closed.
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