Hi guys,
first let me just introduce my self in goof form.
I'm new as a poster but NAM helped me since years with my minis.
I moved from Germany to AZ last year and got my wife a 03 MCS. She had one back in Germany and since she was more than happy with it, we went for the same here.

Since a few days the temperature gets warmer here and we noticed that the AC was not blowing cold air.
I spend the last days on searching here and on other forums, but i can't really come to a conclusion.
I did a lot of checks you guys were writing here but i just need someone to tell me if i understood it the right way.
So first low speed fan is not engaging when AC button is pressed.
I checked the ohms and the seemed fine. I jumped the low fan relay and it ran perfectly.
I jumped the AC relay and nothing happened. No clutch engaging, nothing.
So, how can i check next to close down on the problem.
Does it looks like it's the compressor?
Why doesn't the low fan come on even though the relay is good?
Is there a way to jump the clutch or any sensor and where are they located?
Since i jumped the compressor relay (30 into 87), i tend to believe that the clutch is gone.
I would be very happy for any help. I know some of you guys out there are more proficient than Mini USA dealers, so thank you in advance

George

 

George, I'm working on a '04 with same issues. I have determined that the relay is good, fuses are good, fan relay is good, the power is triggering the relay from when the AC is turned on at the dash, but the clutch is not engaging. The ac clutch has a coil which on mine appears to have failed, and can be replaced pretty easy w/o messing with the compressor. I'll let you know soon. I just took a video this AM.

It looks like if you remove the belt, take out the lower bolt to the compressor, that it should swing down a bit (although still attached with hoses). You will need that clearance to disconnect the clutch wire which is buried on top and out of reach. At least that's my plan, I have to go somewhere before I dig into it further, but ordered a coil on Ebay. Other places such as dealer, auto parts stores want to sell you the entire compressor and clutch which is huge bucks (one on-line mini dealer had $900 for it) and has to be installed by techs with all the AC gear.

Someone had said the refrigerant may have been low cutting off the compressor clutch, but I tried (dumbly before checking other things) adding gas but it didn't go and the compressor wouldn't run even with trying to add gas.

 

Thank you DD,
i just checked if there's a signal coming to the relay.i have power on the 30 and on the 86. If i press the AC button, shouldn't there be the 85 having power too? It looks that there's no signal coming. And isn't 86 ground? So why is there current coming when contact on?

What sends the signal to the relay and if i jump 30 & 87 the compressor / clutch should go on, no?

It's so frustrating. haha, well. i'll keep you updated

 

I keep thinking of ideas when I'm away from the garage...
Use ohm meter to check if the "out" terminal on the relay shows continuity with ground - through the coil. I need to check mine, but I think it went bad with an open circuit. At least that's my current plan. Good luck.
I'm also going to remove the belt, then bolt for compressor and try to get up above it to the connector, then try jumping a 12/v wire and ground to it and seeing if the magnet energizes.

Weird thing is the cooling fans are not coming on as I thought they would.

 

I talked to a Mini mechanic i was referred to here on the forum.
He says we did all the good diagnostic, but that unfortunately it sounds like the clutch fried and needed to be replaced.
So i ordered a new compressor on ebay for 350$ and will have it replaced.
I'll keep you posted on the outcoming.

 

So you can't buy a clutch separate from the entire compressor assembly? This sounds like a problem I have with my A/C but I was convinced it was that the compressor was overfilled. How about buying a scrapped compressor in order to salvage the clutch?

 

Clutch and compressor are one piece. Some say you can repair it, but i don't wanna go through that hassle.
350 compared to the 930 at BMW is ok for me.

 

Ok, got the Mini repaired today.
Went to Eurotech, a Mini specialized shop in Phoenix i was referred to here on NAM.
Honestly awesome. It took Jerry barely 2 hours to replace the compressor and refill everything. He checked the rest of the car and charged me 215$.
With the brand new original compressor from Delphi which came for 349, I made it for less than 600 bucks. It's half the price the dealership does it.
Jerry is certified Mini tech and worked at BMW PHX.
AC works ice cold again
I got my compressor here http://www.automotivebudget.com/index.html
As i said. Original part.
And in case you need a good shop in the PHX area go see Jerry
http://www.eurotechsaz.com/

Thanks NAM

 

I just finished replacing ONLY the a/c clutch coil that was bad on a '04 R50. Found part on Ebay for $95. Search on seller wilber1952 he has one left. Not sure where he got them but it fit perfectly and works fine. The clutch itself doesn't appear to have a lining seems to be steel on steel. Keep track of the spacer washers if you attempt.

BTW, 2 hours to replace the compressor is flying! And the price you paid is incredible. Honestly he's leaving a lot of $ on the table, not making much if he paid for part as well. If only labor, well OK. Still cheap.

I found the upper bolts problematic to get to with my large hands. I tried about everything in my large tool collection, ending up using a stubby on the front bolt and 1/4 drive socket on the back bolt. The unit it shoved up very close to the radiator, you can't fit your hand in-between. Its not a tough job if you can get to the bolt (by feel). Back one does not have to be removed totally supposedly as it has a slot on the compressor but I found it easier and that one was not the problem. Took me about 4 hours of trial and error, and the getting new belt on (due) the tensioner didn't accept my belt tension tool 1/2" drive, and the 3/8 end was welded and not in right position. I could not get a socket wrench on it as the frame was too close. If the tensioner is closer to operating position you can get a socket wrench on it, but not at full droop. I ended up using a long pry bar from the bottom of the BT and dropping the car a bit on the jack to push it up to where I could get my socket wrench to go into it. Even then Mini doesn't give you much "slack" to get the belt on. Not easiest car to work on. But at least the compressor dropped out the bottom. On my Oldsmobile I had to remove a bunch of stuff from top to get to it.

 

So Dirk, you didn't put the car into 'service mode' to R&R the compressor? I need to do this job and make my AC live again.

 

I am first to admit not a mini expert, but no, on this repair the car doesn't know if its parked or getting repaired. The refridgerant stays in the system. the hoses flex allowing you to access front of compressor for the snap rings. Caution, they can be a bit of a pain the cheap tool I used needed modification to open up more. Even then took a few tries. But if you are mechanically minded go for it.

If you test the circuit going to the clutch for continunity to ground and don't get any, the coil is bad. Remove the AC relay and test the leg that goes to the coil. Diagnostics worth the effort. Or just replace the coil and hope (LOL).

If you need to replace the compressor, that's somewhat different process as I didn't need to go that far. But would not have been that bad. However I did not replace drier/accumulator either.

I have a Youtube video on this repair on my phone and trying to figure how to upload it, when I access via android there's no option for it, even when on a wifi. ? May have to connect to laptop. Should have used a camera. My channel is dirkdaddy2.

DD

 

Thanks for the info, Dirkdaddy. I always like to read detailed accounts of labor!
I have the tensioner tool, and have replaced my tensioner/belt so that's a familiar story. I did a "How-to" on the process. I unsprung the tensioner before install in order to gain a little more room. I'm going to keep your write up in mind but I don't know whether my a/c clutch is the problem or my compressor is overfilled (or failing). I don't know how to diagnose this stuff, either.

 

Stanislaus - engage AC and see if the compressor outer clutch is spinning. If so their are other problems. If not, it might be the coil like mine. Check fuse for AC, and if thats OK remove relay for AC. When car running and dash a/c switched on, the relay female socket for Ac should have power - look at the diagram on the relay. The circuit with the coil symbol is the one that triggers the higher amperage circuit for the clutch coil. You should get 12v from one side of this socket - ground the other half of your meter. Use ohm meter setting (with car off now) to go from both of the outputs (high amp switched side) of relay to ground. One should be grounded through the clutch magnetic coil. Mine was "open" or no connection to ground, so it would not engage the clutch.

There are reasons such as low refrigerant and such why you might not get voltage to trigger the clutch on the low amp side, but if you do get voltage there check the clutch coil. If its good check relay. Some jumpers putting 12v across the coil side should make it snap to ON you can confirm with a meter, but these are not prone to failure in most cars. Many places just throw parts at problems w/o really testing, and I've done it before myself but with predictably poor results.

 

DNR, but to get more room from below, undo the lower motor mount, then use a tie down strap (one with a ratchet) to hold the engine back about 2 or 3 inches. Then you get at it from below without much trouble. Use the exhaust middle mount and put the engine mount bolt back in.

You are going to like this tip.

EDIT: You also need "wobble" hex drives since you need to undo them at an angle. Wobble is the kind with a roundish bottom.

 

Dirk,
the price was without the part. I bought the compressor myself.
You saw that Jerry is a Mini tech and that he did it quite a few times.
He emptied the circuit, removed the belt with a special too land then put the mini on a lift. He removed the compressor without putting the radiator in service mode. All by below. He removed the lower engine mount though to have more space to work on it as HRM mentioned it.
It looked really easy. Two hours was with me watching and asking a bazillion questions.
To see if the clutch is done, the easiest way is just to jump the relay. If the compressor doesn't come on, the clutch is done.

 

+1 on Jerry. Great guy, fair prices, top-notch work....

I'm glad you got your AC fixed. When June rolls around, you will probably also want window tint. It makes a *big* difference here in Hell's Forge....

C ya,
Dutch