Hi Everybody,
Can anyone advise as to what to check for first when one's A/C packs up?.
It slowly ceased working during a long run yesterday and I am worried that should I simply get it re-gassed (if that's the main problem) I will just promptly lose it all again!!!.

Any ideas very welcome, Cheers, Richard (1999 Mondeo 1.8l)

 

When they re-gas it they will do a leak test first, so if there are any leaks in the system then you know what to fix. Just tell them its stopped working and if they will pinpint the fault pretty easily.

There is a low pressure switch that cuts the a/c out if pressure drops, so this could have happened over time.

 

Dear Rich170,
Many thanks for that. I have had the car for two years with no trouble, so maybe it's been a slow leak and that switch you mentioned has finally cut out - - I guess I'm maybe grasping at straws and just hoping that it isn't a major leak needing expensive repair!!,
I will head off to a local garage and see what they may charge!. Cheers, Richard

 

Is the AC clutch kicking in? It's a common fault on Mondeos - if it stops kicking in then you need to shim the clutch plate to get it to work again.

 

Thanks CombatSapph,
That's something else for me to to check before heading for a garage.
(Aren't cars fun when they work properly!!!.)
Richard