A/C not working?

Tiny
BEETLEPUNK21
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 BUICK ENCORE
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Hello, the A/C is not blowing cold. The compressor is not engaging when I turn the ac on. I hooked up the compressor to a battery and the clutch does engage. That’s where I'm at so far.

I attached some photos. I hooked up one of those cheap A/C refill hoses to the low pressure side in the needle on the gauge went into the red at 80. I’m not sure if that means anything but that is where I’m at so far. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 AT 1:15 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 52,272 POSTS
I don't see the images, but can I ask if any work has been done on the car's AC system? In the under-hood fuse panel, there is an A/C clutch fuse we need to check for power on both sides while the HVAC system is on full cold, A/C on. Here is a guide to help and the fuse locations in the images below. The compressor relay is not serviceable and is part of the fuse panel under the hood FYI.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes.

.
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Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 AT 5:06 PM
Tiny
BEETLEPUNK21
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Hey Ken, I will check the fuse for power when I get home. So, the relay is built into the underside of the fuse box where the 10a A/C fuse is? Or is the relay in a different place? If it is in a different location, can you send me a picture of under the hood where it is at?
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Monday, March 24th, 2025 AT 8:19 AM
Tiny
BEETLEPUNK21
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Hey Ken, I checked both sides of the fuses and it is receiving power.
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Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 AT 3:51 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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The relay is built into the fuse panel itself. With the system on do you have power at the brn/grn wire going to the compressor?

This guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 AT 1:24 PM
Tiny
BEETLEPUNK21
  • MEMBER
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Hi Ken, I put the test light up to the connector at the A/C compressor, and it does not seem to be getting power at the connector. So, would I have to search the whole wiring loom to try to find a short somewhere?
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Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 AT 5:51 PM
Tiny
BEETLEPUNK21
  • MEMBER
  • 111 POSTS
Greetings Ken, I have not heard from you and I was just curious if you have been busy or just happened to miss my question?
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Thursday, March 27th, 2025 AT 4:07 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Lets, check the "fan rly" fuse in the same fuse panel, this is what powers the relay coil. I still don't see the images you uploaded? The system may have a bad AC pressure sensor. If the fuse is good, I would do a CAN scan.

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

Check out the images (below).
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Thursday, March 27th, 2025 AT 8:54 AM
Tiny
BEETLEPUNK21
  • MEMBER
  • 111 POSTS
Hey Ken, sorry I’m just now getting back to you. I’ve been extremely busy. The first picture I talked about I hooked up the AC gauge and it was at the 80 mark in the red, but of course, the AC compressor was not engaging.

I also tried to do the can scan, but I’m not sure if I was able to find out if the AC pressure sensor is working. The fan relay fuse was good.
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Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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I am confused, the gauge is at 0? There is no AC request, this would be why.
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Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 AT 10:58 AM
Tiny
BEETLEPUNK21
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I didn’t have the gauge hooked up in that picture.

So I’m not really sure what to do next. Do I get a new AC pressure sensor?
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Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 AT 2:40 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, that would be my next move, let me know what happens.
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Friday, April 11th, 2025 AT 9:22 AM
Tiny
BEETLEPUNK21
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Is there any special procedure for that? Or is it just a simple unbolt the old one and bolt on the new one?
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Friday, April 11th, 2025 AT 7:05 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, that is what it is in most cases because it should have a Shrader valve under the sensor. I would also turn the system on and see if you are getting power to the compressor by testing the brn/grn wire, this guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Let us know how it goes.
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Sunday, April 13th, 2025 AT 9:41 AM

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