A/C question

[coolmercury]

I don't know squat about vehicle A/C except how to add refrigerant.  Wife has a 12 Ford escape with 7,500 miles on it and it is blowing hot air.  I put a tester on the line and it is reading 65 psi, well into the red.  Up to this point it has been fine.  Any ideas.

[goodfellow]

Is the clutch engaging -- can you hear the "click" or see it engaging?

[Matt_T]

65 psi sounds like a normal static pressure. Maybe a little low depending on ambient temp. Was the engine running with AC on when you measured it? Either way I agree with Ray that checking clutch operation is the first step. If it is engaging let us know whether it's staying engaged or cycling and what the gauge is reading then.

[bonneyman]

I'd love to get into this help thread but as the vehicle is a 2012 it's R-134a which I know diddly sqwat about!
Although my experience on R12 equipment (still car related, 1996 and back) tells me that there are 3 major areas of failure on mobile A/C.

One: Electronic/electrical device malfunction at least approx 75% of the time 
Two: Freon issue approx 25% of the time
Three: Obvious mechanical failure

So, if the freon looks OK and there's not a broken belt (or a hole in the condenser coil!) chances are there's a electrical problem.

[coolmercury]

clutch does not appear to be engaging, and pressure stays the same at 65 psi.

[oldnslo]

If its not engaging, the system might be low, you'll need to bypass the low pressure switch and check for clutch engagement.

[goodfellow]

clutch does not appear to be engaging, and pressure stays the same at 65 psi.

Check your owners manual fuse diagram and see if there is an AC compressor fuse. I'm not up on Fords, but my Caddy has a separate AC compressor/clutch fuse.

[Matt_T]

Check your owners manual fuse diagram and see if there is an AC compressor fuse. I'm not up on Fords, but my Caddy has a separate AC compressor/clutch fuse.

Probably a fuse and relay for the clutch. They're where to start assuming the AC on indicator is coming on normally inside the vehicle.

[coolmercury]

Dumb-Dumb-Dumb-----As an excuse, it is my wife's car and I haven't driven it except a few times since she bought it in 12.  Since I had to read the book to find the clutch fuse I decided to read up on the A/C.  Low and behold I fine there are more than one off and on switch for the A/C.  Guess wife hit the second one by mistake.  Oh well, all is well that ends well.

[Matt_T]

Dumb-Dumb-Dumb

Double switching the AC is beyond dumb. Don't blame yourself, or your wife, for the OEMs stupidity.

[oldnslo]

Can you describe the operation of the second switch, so we can learn from it?

[muddy]

A simple fix is always nice

Sent from my E6910 using Tapatalk

[fatfillup]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh,  the nut behind the wheel syndrome 

We are all guilty now and then