Possible bad air conditioner compressor

MATT COLABINE

MEMBER
2011 FORD ESCAPE
3.0L
V6
AWD
AUTOMATIC
80,000 MILES

This is the first summer with vehicle and found cold air will not blow with the air conditioner on. My first instinct was to buy refrigerant and fill it up (never did actually put any in). I hooked up the pressure gauge pressure gauge supplied with the can and it read up to about 100 psi with about 80 F ambient temp. Even with the air conditioner on and the fans turned up the compressor clutch would not engage. I read online about bypassing relay to force clutch to engage, but no luck and not even positive if it was done right. Any other theories I could test or is it looking like a seized up compressor? Note: I did not have gauge to test high side psi and no easy access to compressor as its mounted low. Thanks.

1 Reply

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Keep engine off and try to turn over clutch on air conditioner by hand. If it turns it is not seized. Then check items in picture as well as fuses in smart junction box. If still not working then look at diagram and jump both #5 it may be marked on relay or relay box. If it kicks on then it is either a bad relay or is not getting a signal to start which will require a scan by a local professional with a professional scanner. You might try a like relay or adding dielectric compound to prongs of relay for better contact.