Ford Escort intermittent AC

[200PlusClub]

My air con pooched years ago on my 93 Ford Escort LX (1.9 L) and I had a mechanic look at it with no success.

It seems to work intermittently:

1) When I push the air con button sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesn't
2) If I leave the air con button on sometimes it will start up on its own
3) If the air con does kick in it may or may not blow cold air for no predictable duration

Any ideas?

[mightymoose_22]

Since it has been so long, start by making sure you have the right amount of refrigerant in the system and that the pressures are correct.
With the little info to go on, I'd suspect you sprung a leak way back when and the system is low.
If you don't have the means to do it... a reputable shop should be able to test pressure easily. It won't cost you much unless you have to recharge the system.
The parts stores can sell you the tools you need to test the pressure on your own too.

[hakachukai]

I'm not saying this is any eaiser... but you could spend a few bucks and make an electrical tester for your A/C clutch.

Just get a 12v bulb, and put enough wire on it to be able to see it when your driving around. Hook it up to your 2 A/C clutch wires. if the bulb is on, your A/C clutch is getting power. If it's not, your A/C clutch is not getting power.

no power = no A/C

Keep in mind that it is possible for the the clutch get power, but be mechanically bad as well. Does the clutch make any noise, or does it run smooth and quite?