AC Air Conditioning Question

I'm just looking for some suggestions. I still have the stock a/c system (R12). It was working great. But, it just stopped working.

It appears that the compressor is not turning on at all. I can't detect the sound of the compressor clutch cycling. Also, the cooling fan does not turn on when I turn the a/c on.

Could this be a bad pressure switch, not allowing the compressor to start? Or, could it be that the pressure switch is doing exactly what it should, and is stopping the compressor from starting because of low line pressure? Is there any way to tell the difference?

Or, are there any other problems it could be?

Your help is greatly apprecited.
Thanks.
-Jim

I have had the CCPS (pressure switch on the accumulator) fail on several older Fords. Cheap and easy to replace.

First, be sure you havent lost all / most of the R12. Check pressure with engine off. Press changes radically with temp, but should be over 40 or so psi down there in FL, even on what you guys call a cold day.

If there is sufficient pressure do this: With engine running and heater/AC blower on, pull connector off CCPS and jumper connector. Comp should engage and cooling fan should run. AC should start to blow cold. Dont leave jumper in for too long (a minute or so) or evap core might start to freeze up. If system works now, replace CCPS. Its attached to accumulator thru a schraeder valve, so you dont need to evacuate the R12. Just a tiny bit will leak when removing / installing CCPS.

Thanks for the reply. I have already replaced the pressure switch about a year ago. Per your suggestion, I jumpered the switch connector and the compressor turned on fine. So, I replaced the connector with a couple of spade connectors. When I plugged them back into the switch, everything worked fine! Apparently the connector was bad.

Thanks for the help!
-Jim

Jim,
Thanks for posting the solution. So often we don't hear what the fix is.

I had a similar situation, and it ended up being a slightly corroded connector on the compressor itself. The terminals in that connector a very small and if you've had the compressor out or removed that connector, the terminal spades get bent/shifted easy and just don't make enough contact.
+1 on posting the fix!! Solutions are the very essence of membership benefits to the best car club site on the net! NATO!

^^^^ +1

Another good thing to check for inop AC. If cooling fan runs in AC but comp doesnt engage, that crappy connector is the first place to look. Those terminals are pretty small for the 5 or so amps it has to carry.

AC question in january.... i think im jealous!

I just came home from a work trip in Wisconsin... i dont know how you guys can live there. Wow thats cold Friday it was -18°.

^^^^ Yup, been cold the last few days here. -10 deg friday morning when I left for work at 6:30 AM. Usually isnt quite that cold. This past Friday morning was the first time in 2 years the low temp dropped below zero.

Yeah... cold lol. I think i brought it back to Pa its not that cold but coldest ive seen here.