General Air Con Compressor not turning

[sneezy1974]

Hello. I have a 2003 Fiat Multipla 2003 1.9 JTDI had my Aircon regassed today. Unfortunately not working. When looking at a self diagnostics noticed that the Compressor is not spinning when the air con button is pressed upon the dashboard. I have checked the cigarette lighter and that is charging my phone. Thought I would check the relay fuse in the engine but do not know what number 41 is! Have taken a photo. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. cheers

 

[jackwhoo]

I don't know either but there are only 7 fuses shown in your picture why not check each of them?
I have found that the fuse locations and numbering in the drivers hand book don't always tell the true story!

 

[Tubthumper73]

My aircon pump sprang into life after I took out and replaced a couple of fuses but even after a re-gas the system was weak and not really worth the effort. Much easier to do it the old way and wind a window down ☺

 

[widemouthfrog]

Getting the right amount of refrigerant is just as important as having a sealed system and the compressor working. It might be worth getting it checked. The aircon is admittedly bit marginal on a hot day, but still worth having.

 

[ILoveMyMult]

I have a similar problem with my air con system and i have had a good go at sorting it myself. Im going to try that fuse 41 which is actually positioned under the ridge where the headlights sit, just above the battery. there are three here and 41 is in the top left position.

So far i have cleaned out the passenger bay temperature sensor.
Fuse 13 in the dash is good checked that.
I know that the magnetic clutch is kicking in on the compressor if thats the bit at the front of the engine being turned by the belt.
All the pipes coming in and out of this and all are good.

I've had the pressure tested by Halfords and its perfect. I've also changed the Pollen/Air filter.

My next port of call is what i think is the condenser, ive searched on here and cant seem to find exactly where it is. I know its buried somewhere in the dash or engine compartment.:bang:

Can someone PLEASE help me :worship: with diagrams as we're doing a trip to the UK next week and the motorway wont be fun if I have to leave the windows open.

I hope you don't mind me hijacking this thread but maybe some of the things I've checked will help you.

 

[widemouthfrog]

If Halfords have checked the system pressure and said it's OK, I'd think it unlikely that you've got a problem with the condensor (which, by the way, is the thing that looks like a thin radiator at the front of the engine bay, lying in front of the engine coolant radiator). If there was a fault with that, the system wouldn't hold pressure. The fact that you can hear a 'clunk' from the magnetic clutch kicking in is also a sign that system pressure is OK.

Can you get Halfords to check that the system pressure switch is working? I would think it is, as if it wasn't, the compressor clutch wouldn't work. As you stand in front of the car looking into the engine bay, it's on the right-hand end of the condensor, usually with a green wiring connector.

Do all of your fan speeds work OK in the cabin?

 

[ILoveMyMult]

Hi there
Thanks for your reply.
So in the car the fan speeds all work although I have noticed that ocasionally they kind of irratically change speed like they are revving and then slowing down.
The fans also speed up when the ac button is pressed and when the re-circulation button is pressed.
The guy in halfords just put the pressure checker on the one of the valves and said it's much higher than a lot of cars.
The only thing that I say as different is a sound like hissing coming from the passenger side if the dash/engine bay when the air con button is pressed.
Will look tomorrow for any loose connections on the condensor

 

[g8rpi]

Hi there
Thanks for your reply.
So in the car the fan speeds all work although I have noticed that ocasionally they kind of irratically change speed like they are revving and then slowing down.
The fans also speed up when the ac button is pressed and when the re-circulation button is pressed.
The guy in halfords just put the pressure checker on the one of the valves and said it's much higher than a lot of cars.
The only thing that I say as different is a sound like hissing coming from the passenger side if the dash/engine bay when the air con button is pressed.
Will look tomorrow for any loose connections on the condensor

If the pressure is high it would normally stop the compressor engaging. If compressor is actually turning and fans are running, it should work. it's basically a very simple system. A loose connection will cause loss of gas, a blocked expansion valve will cause excessive pressure and either of these will disengage the clutch on the compressor. What you are saying does not add up so it's near impossible for someone to help remotely. You need to get someone who knows what they are doing to look at it.


Robert G8RPI.

 

[lancia8888]

What about the pressure sensor? Sits on the passenger side behind the condenser, I have a spare new one if you want it?

 

[lancia8888]

Sometimes if there's enough pressure in the system it will still kick the compressor in... you could do with a nitrogen pressure test and go round with diluted washing up liquid to see if any of the connections are leaking. I had an issue with mine and if you put your head under the central dash it sounded like Darth Vader... Traced it to the pipe with the two refill connections on and was leaking at the elbow coming off the condenser...