Ford Ka - Air con compressor clutch

[mic2507jz0l]

Hi,

Need a little help, the air con on my 2003 Ka Lux has stopped working, I have got as far as proving the dash switch, fuse and relay are all working and the clutch is not seized but found I don't get any voltage to the connection plug close to the compressor clutch. From the wiring diagram in my Haynes manual it shows also a compressor clutch diode related to this also, but as yet I can't trace where this thing is or know for sure if this applies to all model year cars. Does anyone know where this item is located in the car? and is it available as a spare part?

Cheers for any help

 

[davieboy]

is there any gas in the system?? if not the pressure switch will be open circuit to stop the clutch engaging.

 

[mic2507jz0l]

Interesting, I had not condisered that half of the system as the cause for not running itself, but I see your thinking. I have not had anything happen that would lead me to believe the gas has escaped since it was last checked just before Christmas. Do you know where this pressure switch is located, the Haynes manual does not show it in the curcuit diagram, does in the wiring diagram though. I was hoping to avoid a trip to the garage, but if the gas or even a faulty pressure switch is the cause I guess it will be necessary because of dealing with the refrigerent.

Cheers

 

[Stivino]

Sometimes you'll find it screwed in to the receiver/drier. Kwik fit promise to improve your AC by 10% or there's no charge, it's worth a try. Kwik fit are backed by Autoclimate. http://www.autoclimate.co.uk or http://www.autoclimate.co.uk/trade/set12.html

 

[davieboy]

usual fault is lack of gas. system will loose about 10 % of charge a year. 03 ka 5 years old. at least 50% of charge probably evaporated. ford are notorious for undercharging a system from the factory (i was a ford dealer for many a year).

try a regas from kwik fit or the like. usually the problem. the ka system is very good. don't recall ever replacing anything on them (other than the gas).

p.s. for a ballpark i take 80 quid for a regas and diagnosis and i know i am quite expensive.

 

[Stivino]

You are indeed expensive. I can get a guy to come to me to do it and he charges £50 for that. Kwik fit charge £45 but I've managed to get them to do it for me twice at £30 a time.

 

[^neo^]

Yeah, but being based in Scotland he probably doesn't get too much business servicing air con as the temperature is so bloody cold up there!

 

[timtheenchanter]

watch kwik fit!!

with my old car when I got them to re-charge, they took the initial temerature with the air con turned off!!!!
then the final reading with it on!!

Hmm, should be a 10% there, didnt make a difference with mine cos the air con was completly dead anyway, so any improvement was great.

 

[mic2507jz0l]

Thanks davieboy, system was checked out at local main dealer, no faulty components, or leaks, regassed and now works fine. For info, this aircon "service" was £89.95 (south east england).

 

[mrcabrach]

wonder where the gas went then

 

[Stivino]

For info; Kwik fit do that service for £45. If you subtract their 20% off voucher that's valid until the end of the year it's only £36.

 

[Agile]

Where do I get the 20% off voucher?

My car air con has never worked since I bought the 10 year old car recently and I expect it just needs recharging.

However I thought they were meant to search for leaks before recharging? Do Q-K do that?

Tony

 

[Stivino]

Checking for leaks is part of the process. If you have a leak the process should stop. The voucher was a tear off that formed part of the folder my receipt was in. The probably have them in store. I've sweet talked it out of them twice for £30 though, which is even less than the discount price.

 

[mrcabrach]

no they dont leak check they pull a vacuum of minus 15 psi if the system holds this for a few minutes they then fill it up and smile saying your system is fine which is about as much use as mud flaps on a tortoise
take your car to a proper air con specialist and get it pressure tested with nitrogen

 

[Stivino]

no they dont leak check they pull a vacuum of minus 15 psi

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that a contradiction? I've had it done three times by Kwik fit on different cars and had no problems. I've had it done two times by "experts" on both occasions their work was a disaster.