Hi,

I have a issue with my 1.2 car whereby the air con compressor clutch seems to be engaging on and off every 15 seconds or so (you can sit and watch it with the bonnet open).

Air con is definately turned off on the dash!

It wouldn't normally be a problem but a) the compressor rattles when it switches on which is rather annoying and b) this is obviously affecting my mpg (averaging late 30s right now).

Does anyone know what might cause this?

Its actually for a mk2 ford ka but obviously its the same car as a 500 underneight so hoping someone here can shed some light...


Many thanks

Have you checked the system pressure.. and wiring contacts?


Any other odd things happening..?

Does the Ka have the same issues with hatch wiring??

Not yet - only had the car 3 week and just noticed this over the last day or so.

No other odd things happening as far as i can tell but thanks for the heads up on the hatch wiring..i wasn't aware of that.

Hopefully it just needs topped up/a regas but i've had cars before where the system is empty and the aircon doesn't kick...guess its an electrical fault somewhere.

When the compressor engages, do the cooling fans come on? Are you sure the clutch kicks in, there is a clear "CLICK" when the compressor clutch pulls in and the central part of the pully starts to move.
To definitively confirm your diagnosis disconnect the single wire to the compressor, do the cooling fans still start? You could connect a small bulb to the wire to see if it's giving a clear on command, if it is even when the system is off seek expert help from a AC specialist(not a average a.c. 're charge place)

Is it a car with aircon or climate control?

I’ve been reading this thread because my AC behaves in a similar fashion.
My car (2015 1.2 500s) has manual AC, NOT climate control.

When I turn the ac on, the compressor and fan starts.

The fan then seems to stop and the compressor clicks off.

The control knob stays illuminated.

After a few more seconds, the compressor and fan restarts.

It continues as such, clicking on and off, until I turn the AC off.

As a side note, when I initially turn the AC on, there is a sort of rushing / whooshing noise that can be heard from the vent area in the car. This is not related to fan speed.

I was unsure if this is normal operation or if I have a fault...

Appologies for jumping on this thread, but it seems my question is related, which is why I posted here.

Cheers

Rich

callisr said:

When I turn the ac on, the compressor and fan starts. The fan then seems to stop and the compressor clicks off. The control knob stays illuminated. After a few more seconds, the compressor and fan restarts. It continues as such, clicking on and off, until I turn the AC off.

Click to expand...

These are common symptoms of insufficient refrigerant.

When was the system last regassed? If the answer is never, it may just need hoovering out, leak testing and regassing.

The key difference with the OP's issue is that in their case, the compressor seemed to be engaging with the A/C turned off.

Thank you for the response! I have only had this car for a month and not had much cause to use the AC.
I have no record of the AC being serviced but following your suggestion, I shall find an automotive AC specialist and get the system serviced.

Total oversight on my part re the op’s issue! I must read what is written instead of what I want it to say!
Thanks again, much appreciated!

Rich

Yep recharge, don't use it until it's done o would suggest, but once done, if you can, leave it on all the time especially in winter.
I get Kwik Fit to recharge mine, always had good service in this respect, whoever does it, have them also replace the cabin filter-its a bit of a pain to replace in the 500 RHD

5 years is about right time for a regas. I had my Panda done at 3 years, when really warm weather wasn't cold enough (should feel absolutely freezing). Pollen filter crucial, yours will come out black probably. Also means will get same volume of air at speed 2 as did at 3 because was so clogged.

I agree with the comments above, replace the cabin filter on any new (to you) car as no one ever changes them as often garages ignore them on a service.

No harm using the aircon till it’s regassed especially if it’s not been used for a while before, even with clicking on and off it will be pumping some oil round the system so which combined with the pressure changes on the joints might help loosen up any stiff or dry rubber seals in the system that way when it is recharged you have a better chance of keeping the gas in the system.

As it’s working it’s a good candidate for recharging with a top up kit but only if you feel competent, it can also end up costing more than at a garage as you get supposedly two charges out of a recharge kit.

Kwikfit are probably fine another cheap company to try is the halfords auto centres and don’t be sold on any of there other crap like a .... check or ..... test, the system works it just needs topping up

Thanks everyone!
Some sound advice there. I’ll get on it next week unless a lockdown prevents it!
Apologies to the OP for hijacking the thread (although it does mean it’s bumped to the top of the pile!!!

Hi, sorry i've not replied to this - i've been busy sorting a leaking roof, seized brakes, replacing 2 tyres and lowering it.

The ka has air con but no climate control.

After my last post i noticed if i leave the air direction knob facing anything except the windscreen the compressor does not kick in and rattle (i wonder if the air con becomes active at this setting for some reason even if the knob isn't turned??).

Anyway thats the temporary solution but after reading the above i think a regas may be next on the list...the car is a 12 plate so it likely has never been done.

Will report back...!

I seem to remember a Ford I used to own automatically put the AC on when the screen was selected on the air distribution control knob so its quite possible that this is how your system is meant to behave in order to achieve maximum screen clearing......

Eventually put it to a garage; the condenser has a holes in it so the gas has escaped causing the compressor to click off rather than run when its mean to. Unfortunately I have had to leave repairing it as I also had to buy a new instrument cluster at 400 pound.

u33db said:

Eventually put it to a garage; the condenser has a holes in it so the gas has escaped causing the compressor to click off rather than run when its mean to. Unfortunately I have had to leave repairing it as I also had to buy a new instrument cluster at 400 pound.

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If it's holed then there's nothing in it?
Therefore you can replace the condenser yourself not a hard job and not expensive(£50) then just get recharged.

John202020 said:

If it's holed then there's nothing in it?
Therefore you can replace the condenser yourself not a hard job and not expensive(£50) then just get recharged.

Click to expand...

No quite so. If you do a recharge to an aircon garage, before recharge they create vacuum in the system and only after that recharge. Without vacuum, the pressure will always be off charts.

LE: totally correct with replacing de condenser and regarding recharge maybe I got it wrong, sorry if so, but I thought you ment he should do the recharge by himself too.
OP: yes, it is an easy job to replace the condenser, you can do it!

John202020 said:

If it's holed then there's nothing in it?
Therefore you can replace the condenser yourself not a hard job and not expensive(£50) then just get recharged.

Click to expand...

Hi there,

Yes that's the plan...i had a look on ebay and they're fairly cheap and looks easy enough once the bumper is off.

Its not really a major issue right now to be honest as we've a lot of snow up here so won't be using it anytime soon. I'd probably just leave it as is except the annoying clicking noise is a pain so will likely get round to it once things warm up...along with the cambelt.

Despite it being a bit of lemon when i bought it i'm actually beginning to warm to the car now!

u33db said:

I'd probably just leave it as is except the annoying clicking noise is a pain

Despite it being a bit of lemon when i bought it i'm actually beginning to warm to the car now!

Click to expand...

Just switch the ac off?

John202020 said:

Just switch the ac off?

Click to expand...

I can't; its like a guy mentioned above - it comes on automatically if the blower is pointed to the window position and seems to stay on for a while, even though the AC is turned off on the dash.

No way round it other than to move the blower to a different position, then back once the window starts gumming up...and repeat over and over.