Ford Kuga

 Service Manual

Climate Control System » Climate Control System
Refrigerant Circuit - Quick Check

WARNING: The air conditioning system is filled with refrigerant R134a. Observe "Health and Safety Precautions". For further information REFER to: Air Conditioning (A/C) System Recovery, Evacuation and Charging (412-00 Climate Control System - General Information, General Procedures).

Refrigerant circuit check

WARNING: Under certain circumstances, refrigerant lines and A/C components may be extremely hot or cold. Exercising care, touch the refrigerant lines or A/C components in order to check this. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.

When the A/C system is operating, the following conditions should apply:

• The refrigerant line from the refrigerant compressor to the condenser must be hot.
• The refrigerant line from the A/C condenser to the fixed orifice tube must be warm, but not so hot as the refrigerant line mentioned above.
• Determine the difference in temperature upstream and downstream of the A/C condenser by measuring the temperatures at the refrigerant lines. The temperature difference should be more than 20 C, depending on the ambient temperature. If the temperature difference is less, check the condenser for contamination or damage to the fins as well as operation of the radiator fans.
• The refrigerant line between the fixed orifice tube and the evaporator must be cold from the point where the fixed orifice tube is installed.

  Depending on the weather, the refrigerant line may also have ice on its surface

• The refrigerant line between the evaporator and the A/C compressor including the dehydrator must be cold.

Evaporator outlet line temperature test

To test the power of the A/C system, the temperature at the evaporator outlet line must be measured. To do this, the following preconditions must be met:

• Open all windows.
• Set the air distribution to the defrost/dashboard position and open all the ventilation nozzles.
• DO NOT switch on recirculated air.
• Select lowest blower switch setting.
• Select lowest temperature setting.

NOTE: The temperature measurement cannot be done with a thermometer which makes no contact.

The surface reflection from the metal line may cause incorrect readings.

Connect the temperature sensor (Fluke 80 PK-8) to the outlet line of the evaporator. Locate the temperature sensor as close as possible to the evaporator. Connect the temperature sensor to the multimeter.

Start the engine and allow it to run at idle speed for several minutes.

Switch on the A/C.

After three minutes, measure the surface temperature of the evaporator outlet line.

If the temperature measured is 4 C or lower, the A/C system is OK. If the temperature is higher, the A/C system may be under-filled. For further information, refer to REFER to: Air Conditioning (A/C) System Recovery, Evacuation and Charging (412-00 Climate Control System - General Information, General Procedures).

Frequent faults and their causes

If the cooling power of the A/C system is not adequate, make certain that the temperature control flap(s) is/are operating correctly.

No or poor cooling performance:

• Blockage or narrowing of a refrigerant line or in the dehydrator. The location of the blockage or narrowing can easily be located by temperature comparisons at the refrigerant lines and the dehydrator. The blockage or restriction is located at the point where the temperature difference is identified. Note: A temperature difference in the area of the fixed orifice tube is normal. If the location of the blockage or narrowing is found, check the corresponding component and renew as applicable

Sudden drop in cooling performance (after the air conditioning has been switched off for approx. 5 minutes, the cooling performance returns to normal):

• The cause is an iced-up fixed orifice tube because of moisture in the refrigerant circuit.

  In order to ensure that moisture is completely removed from the refrigerant circuit, the dehydrator should be renewed and the evacuation time should be extended to 2-3 hours. For further information

REFER to: Air Conditioning (A/C) System Recovery, Evacuation and Charging (412-00 Climate Control System - General Information, General Procedures).

Inspection and Checking

Refrigerant Circuit - Quick Check

Sequence of A/C Request Signal