A/C Clutch "short-cycling"?

[MXSG]

I had some A/C work done a week or two ago in order to fix my very loud A/C clutch. The problem was resolved by the dealer under my ESP and everything felt great. They replaced a few things and refilled my system.

However, I just got back from a 600 mile roadtrip and somewhere along the way I noticed the A/C was cycling on and off more and more frequently. Right now, when the car is on the clutch will engage for about 15 seconds, then click off for about 10 seconds and then back on repeating over and over.

It's certainly less annoying than the squeak, but this doesn't seem like it can be good for the life of the system. Any thoughts before I take it back down to the dealer... again...

[greggash]

you need one or two cans of freon

bring it back so they can fix the leak too!

[Kennyrauder]

You are LOW on freon... bring her back to the dealer.....right away... Kenny

[Phrog_gunner]

There is a high and a low pressure cut out switch on the system. So dont just go adding freon until you check the pressure with the gauge.

[cassidy]

I am sure you never heard this before...but this is from a veteran certified Ford technician from Michigan.

* Never leave your A/C on after you shut off the engine. Go to "OFF" or "VENT" before the next engine start.

* Turn on your A/C at least once every two weeks in any weather.

* Only turn on your A/C at start up idle engine speed. Never mess with the A/C controls while driving at high speed or accelerating.

* Avoid flooring the engine with the A/C on...it cycles on and off.

* Only shut off your A/C at idle engine speed.

* Only use your A/C with the temperature set at 60 degrees, otherwise it turns on and off...you are much better off directing the vents away from you or opening windows to get rid of extra cold than forcing the compressor to cycle.

* Last but not least Ford is seriously looking at magnetic compressor technology which uses no gas and actually compresses with sound.



Put that in your pipe and smoke it.:beatnik:


Oh yeah and on my last five cars...the A/C is always ice cold and needs service half as much as other cars do...

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Um yeah okay. Only setting at 60 degrees is nice in theory but that is crazy. I don't care if my AC only lasts 150,000 miles instead of 200,000 miles if that means the temperature of the car is what I command it to.

Flooring the car will kick the AC out, once, and then kick it back in, once. The AC cycles a lot more than this, just regulating temperature.

[Krytin]

Um yeah okay. Only setting at 60 degrees is nice in theory but that is crazy. I don't care if my AC only lasts 150,000 miles instead of 200,000 miles if that means the temperature of the car is what I command it to.

Flooring the car will kick the AC out, once, and then kick it back in, once. The AC cycles a lot more than this, just regulating temperature.

I agree!
The AC has been on a vacuum switch for WOT cut-out since the 70's. And everytime you run the defroster you are running the AC so you are covered for the winter months. It is a good idea to run the system just to keeg the oil circulating past all of the seals and to keep the compressor shaft seal from getting a flat spot.
Every car I ever owned went past 150K miles and I never had to service the AC.

[Marauderjack]

201,890 miles on my A/C and I never did any of that.....I just use it and it has worked flawlessly!!:beer::bows::D

[MXSG]

I made an appointment for later this week, so I'll post the results then...

However, I fiddled with all of the climate controls and for whatever reason the A/C clutch is engaging normally now (clicks on at start-up and stays engaged for extended periods). I also checked the heater and nothing!

Using a thermometer I checked the air temperature: normal A/C at any temp setting (60-90 degrees) blows at 60 degrees and Max A/C at any temp blows at 55 Degrees.

Anyway, it's clear there is a problem so I will have it serviced. Thank god for the ESP, I couldn't afford this car without it!

[cassidy]

The point is the air conditioner compressor has to turn on at low engine rpm...less clutch strain and the more it stays consistently on the less problems you will have. This is to prevent leaks and compressor failure

I keep my A/C on 60 or it is on VENT 60...and it is ice cold and troublefree, some of us want to be obsessive about stuff.

Now I have a REAL question and complaint about the Panther platform since my 1973 Mercury Marquis Brougham with the 460 engine (four barrel carbuerator...cinnamon rust with a beige vinyl top and beige leather I seem to remember)... Why is the VENT on a cool day, out of the shade, about twenty degrees warmer than outside air? How hard would it have been for a Ford engineer to scoop out nice cool air for a vent so that air conditioners aren't always needed? It ain't like that on GM or CHRYSLER products...I guess we scoop air out from under the windshield wipers in a Rube Goldberg set-up (look him up it is worth it).

[jdenning002]

Did they fix your issue??? What was it??

[MXSG]

Unfortunately, no... I had a few other issues which also did not get resolved to my liking, and combined with moving to a new town I just haven't had the chance to find a new shop yet.

I will be sure to give an update when I take her in again. (nothing major is wrong at the moment, and I'm tired of paying the $100 deductible and being without the car for a few days, so I'm in no rush to have anymore work done until I absolutely have to!)




Did they fix your issue??? What was it??

[JimmyXR7]

I am sure you never heard this before...but this is from a veteran certified Ford technician from Michigan.

* Never leave your A/C on after you shut off the engine. Go to "OFF" or "VENT" before the next engine start. I do this for 30 seconds to dry out the A/C ducts.

* Turn on your A/C at least once every two weeks in any weather. Keeps the seals lubricated and fresh.

* Only turn on your A/C at start up idle engine speed. Never mess with the A/C controls while driving at high speed or accelerating. Thanks for the hint.

* Avoid flooring the engine with the A/C on...it cycles on and off. Oh Oh.

* Only shut off your A/C at idle engine speed. Low engine speed in town approaching home.

* Only use your A/C with the temperature set at 60 degrees, otherwise it turns on and off...you are much better off directing the vents away from you or opening windows to get rid of extra cold than forcing the compressor to cycle. Yes, the automatic temperature control drives me crazy. I want cold air on my face.

Oh yeah and on my last five cars...the A/C is always ice cold and needs service half as much as other cars do...

Thanks for the tips for longer A/C life. I will add the ones I do not do to my list. I own vehicles with over 200,000 miles on them. Remember the rear end differential is lubricated for the life of the vehicle, but I change the differential gear oil on all of my vehicles. On my MM I changed it at 45,000 miles. Jim