2001 Ford Escape with AC issue!

Spoolx · 05-31-2009, 02:00 PM

Hi All,
I recently purchased a 2001 Escape with V6. I always like to join forums of the cars I own.

Of course I do have an issue and was wondering if someone had some insight.

The AC is blowing warm. The AC clutch is not engaging.

I have done some testing.

1) I jumped the low/high pressure switch No result

2) I hooked direct 12v power to the clutch and it worked and the AC blowed nice and cold

3) I checked all the fuses, they are all in good shape.

4) I swapped relays with a identical one right next to it in the fuse box

5) If I hook up power to the number 5 relay terminal the clutch kicks on

I am not sure what is not telling it to turn on, I havent pulled the dash apart because I wanted to get some other opinions.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

wptski · 05-31-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoolx

Hi All,
I recently purchased a 2001 Escape with V6. I always like to join forums of the cars I own.

Of course I do have an issue and was wondering if someone had some insight.

The AC is blowing warm. The AC clutch is not engaging.

I have done some testing.

1) I jumped the low/high pressure switch No result

2) I hooked direct 12v power to the clutch and it worked and the AC blowed nice and cold

3) I checked all the fuses, they are all in good shape.

4) I swapped relays with a identical one right next to it in the fuse box

5) If I hook up power to the number 5 relay terminal the clutch kicks on

I am not sure what is not telling it to turn on, I havent pulled the dash apart because I wanted to get some other opinions.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Not sure if it's similiar to a '09 is in operation?

AC Clutch Relay
Pin #3 is 12V from the fuse
Pin #5 goes to the clutch
Pin #1 is 12V from the PCM power relay
Pin #2 is control or operation of the relay, PCM provides the ground

You should have 12V on Pins #3/1 for sure, if not, your not getting a ground on Pin #2, however that's done on a '01.

The PCM receives from the AC Transducer and controls the AC Clutch Relay

Spoolx · 05-31-2009, 06:49 PM

Okay
Pin 1 and 3 have 13 volts

Now their is something funny about pin 2

If I use my DVM and probe battery positive and pin 2 I get 12 volts

BUT

if I ground out my test light, or use pin 2 as ground for the relay I get nothing.

I ran ground to pin 2 and the clutch kicked in so obviously my issue is the ground to the relay.

The ground comes directly from the PCM?

ElectrolysisDoc · 05-31-2009, 08:00 PM

A wiring diagram would confirm, but typically ....yes.

wptski · 05-31-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoolx

Okay
Pin 1 and 3 have 13 volts

Now their is something funny about pin 2

If I use my DVM and probe battery positive and pin 2 I get 12 volts

BUT

if I ground out my test light, or use pin 2 as ground for the relay I get nothing.

I ran ground to pin 2 and the clutch kicked in so obviously my issue is the ground to the relay.

The ground comes directly from the PCM?

You have to assume that because Pin has 12V and that's one side of the relay's coil, so to operate, you need a ground. Just like one side of the AC clutch coil goes to ground too. The wiring diagram doesn't show the inside of the PCM, just inputs and outputs.

So now you have to find out how Pin #2 gets its ground to operate. If it's from the PCM like a '09, it gets complicated!

Spoolx · 06-01-2009, 04:21 AM

hmm yea, I ran codes to see if the computer had anything and nothing... contemplating just runnign a toggle and relay and supplying ground manually

wptski · 06-01-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoolx

hmm yea, I ran codes to see if the computer had anything and nothing... contemplating just runnign a toggle and relay and supplying ground manually

You'd need a wiring diagram for your vehicle now to trace the wiring. I understand that the '09s went to a PCM with more pins, so your PCM is likely to be different.