Mondeo a/c & radiator fan mystery

[TimW]

I have a 2001 Mk3 Mondeo & the air con packed up last week. I assumed it just needed regassing after 6 years but then a few days later I noticed that the radiator fan started kicking in towards the end of my half hour commute to work (though it stops when I turn the engine off). The temperature gauge indicates that everything ir normal and I have checked oil & coolant which are both fine.

I don't know whether there is a genuine temperature control issue or whether a sensor / relay / fuse has blown. I also wonder whether the air con failure is in any way connected to the radiator fan kicking in.

Any suggestions for what the problem may be or any diagnostics I can do are welcome.

Thanks, Tim

[neiljohnson]

Often a problem with these is the clutch on the compressor get someone to turn the air con on and off while you watch it if its not kicking in thats your problem. A cheap fix is to take off the pully and behind you will find a small washer throw it away and bolt it together again 9 times out of ten it will start working again.

[ANDY280702]

I HAVE ENCOUNTERED MANY PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING ON EARLY MONDEO 2001 ONWARDS THEY ARE COMMON FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING PIPE WHICH COMES FROM THE BACK OF THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR TO LEAK IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR OF MONDEO THE REASON WHY THE PIPE LEAKS IS DUE TO A DESIGN FAULT AND THEY RUB AND WEAR ON FRONT SUBFRAME , THE REPLACMENT PART IS AVALIBLE FROM FORD FOR AROUND £65 PLUS ANY REGASSING , THEY HAVE MODIFIED THE PART TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM , AS FOR FAN CUTTING IN THIS SEAMS LIKE NOTHING OUT OF ORDINARY PROBABLY JUST COINSIDENCE BUT I WOULD STILL CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM FOR PEACE OF MIND , HOPE THAT THIS IS OF SOME HELP

[TimW]

Thanks for your words of wisdom. I'm popping it into Ford for a checkup so I will see what they have to say. Doubt they will recommend the washer trick but that would do me fine!