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        General >> Problems >> Air Con high pressure switch
        
(Message started by: Chriselec on Aug 20^th, 2005, 7:56pm)

Title: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by Chriselec on Aug 20^th, 2005, 7:56pm

My air conditioning has gone intermittent, when I tap the high pressure switch which is located on top of the receiver dryer, it starts to work again, is it possible to change this switch with out having to recharge the system.

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by craig on Aug 20^th, 2005, 8:18pm

no...

you have to vac down the system to do this,and you have to buy the whole receiver/drier because the swich is combined with this,prive from ford parts is £77.36,i know this because i ordered one on thursday ;)

craig

PS you really need to get the item replaced by the pro's as well

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by Chriselec on Aug 20^th, 2005, 8:29pm

Craig, many thanks for the info. Chris. :)

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by craig on Aug 20^th, 2005, 8:38pm

if it helps anyone else,been told the "life expectancy" of 1 of these is a maximum 10 years,mine is now coming up to 8 ( :'() so theres a word of caution to you all

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by bigmaltwo on Aug 21^st, 2005, 2:51am

hiya.
first the good news! :D
the switch is available on it's own, but at a ridiculous price!! it does NOT :(come as part of the reveiver / drier.
it just screws into the top of it...easy peasy.
mine had been 'bypassed' (previous owner!!) by joing one pair of the wires together previously. there are 4 wires, 2 'pairs', and a fault on either 'side' of the switch will cause problems. not recommended to run the aircon with it bypassed, as you would have no over-pressure, or under-pressure protection {}.
had to change compressor on mine, so a new receiver/drier was needed. It doesn't come with the switch either, as they expect you use the old one!
a pain in the butt, but not a hard job. If i remember right, the system did not need to be de-pressurised, but would recommend you check this first :o
good luck!

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by craig on Aug 21^st, 2005, 7:47am

on 08/21/05 at 02:51:58, bigmaltwo wrote:

hiya.
first the good news! :D
the switch is available on it's own, but at a ridiculous price!! it does NOT :(come as part of the reveiver / drier.
it just screws into the top of it...

have a read of this

HERE (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/acrevamp.htm)

mine arrived yesterday,and i can confirm that the switch is thereas well...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by mr._floppy on Aug 21^st, 2005, 5:47pm

Surely in a system that's only used a few weeks a year one would expect the reciever/drier to last indefinately rather than have a life expectancy.

Well, mines 9 year old and still going strong, crossing legs while touching wood and throwing lucky black cat over my left shoulder.

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by scorpio_man on Aug 21^st, 2005, 5:55pm

hi there

i for one run the a/c all year round. when it's wet/damp, it helps keep the windows mist free.

re the dryer. it is a silica gel type filter. it's to remove moisture from the system. once it 'full', you start getting the pressure problems ie fans running on fast mode etc.

remember it should be regased every 2 to 3 years and the pollen filters changed every 6 months to a year. a shot of anti-bacterial spray to keep the air conditioning pipes clean once a year is a good idea too.

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by craig on Aug 21^st, 2005, 7:35pm

on 08/21/05 at 17:47:44, mr._floppy wrote:

Surely in a system that's only used a few weeks a year one would expect the reciever/drier to last indefinately rather than have a life expectancy.

i have to agree with scorpio man here,you really should run the cc all year round,or AT THE VERY LEAST once a month,failure to do this can make the seals become hard and brittle,then when you do decide to use the climate,you will end up losing the gas through the damaged seals.......

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by bigmaltwo on Aug 22^nd, 2005, 1:31am

thanks craig.
taken what you said on-board.
guess it depends where you source them from!
Mine did NOT come with switch :( (brand new, sourced from my motor factor's (i work there!) suppliers). switch was only available from ford. I got one off a member of this forum. works fine ;D.
All work on 'pressure' side was done by local air con engineer...........quite easy, if you have the equipment. No problem to get for trade, but don't think you could get it if not! ???

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by Chriselec on Aug 22^nd, 2005, 8:47pm

I also run my system all year round, I agree it does help keep the car mist free. I had a new Dryer Filter last year with a new compresser. I now have a new presure switch and have been told by a mechanic that it should be ok to unscrew the old one and replace it. But just in case its not, I think I will leave it to the experts. :-/ I let you know what happens.

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by Chriselec on Aug 27^th, 2005, 1:39pm

Just an update to say I have fit the switch myself, very difficult to get a 17mm spanner in there, the system seals it self as you unscrew it, makes a little pop. Then when you screw new one in it make's a slight hiss. Working fine now. Many thanks Chris.

Title: Re: Air Con high pressure switch
Post by Big_Green_Tank on Aug 30^th, 2005, 12:02pm

If the Receiver drier is a silica gel container then surely these can be recyled, after all it must be possible to dry it out and seal and save it for the next change required, if you intend to keep the car for a long time!
Yeah i know I am a "Tightwad"!!!
Bob