Compressor dead! Actuator clicking! Woe is me! F.O.R.D.?

[jeff]

Errrrrrrrrrr...short rant. Give me some sympathy guys...

So I bought this car partly because I'd researched the FiST for years and wanted one as it is a fantastic little driver.....and partly because I was ready for a newish car with warranty and blah blah blah...

Car has 9000 miles....I have loved it since purchase in November 2015....every drive is a hoot....love my mod choices....blah blah blah...

About a month ago when it was flaming hot (over 90 degrees) I noticed my A/C wasn't cooling. Checked the freon, it was fine. Then the A/C started working again. Then it didn't. Pretty much any time it was HOT it did not work.

So finally yesterday it was so hot and humid and it was a good day for me to take it in so I did. But on the way there....CLICK CLICK CLICK!!! The dreaded "actuator crap little gear teeth made of plastic broke for many of us as noted on other threads" problem!!!

So the tech rode with me, verified both problems, and some nice lady gave me a ride home in a C-Max. I got a call this morning....diagnosis was (1) actuator and (2) bad compressor. The two are unrelated. They didn't mind my mods and everything will be fixed under warranty. And they were very nice. And a good side to all of this is that they can fix both problems in one service visit; I'm glad I waited before taking it in so the 2nd problem could occur and I wouldn't have to take it in two times.

But dammit I'm still a bit pissed. This car has been on the road 12 months and has 9,000 miles. Bad compressor?

OK.....hopefully the F.O.R.D. acronym will stop with this. But I hate having anyone but me work on my car, my experience with dealerships in the past has been that they mess stuff up and put it back together wrong. Hopefully Fairway Ford in Evans is different and has techs that know what they're doing. Looking forward to getting my car back next week. I'm gonna buy some new mods to placate my sorrow and misery over this.

Thanks for commiserating with me.

 

[M0LTEN]

Almost in the same boat as you. My air comes and goes. I never know when it is going to stop working.
I dont want to bring it in until it quits completely or they will probably just send me on my way.
When its working its fine.

90's here in Florida suck without air.

Can you give me a little more detail on the dreaded Actuator clicking/gear stripping?

 

[BlueBullet]

My actuator went out around 20k miles and had it replaced. I have almost 25k now and it still works fine. I live in the deep south and run the A/C almost year round. It was an easy fix and didn't take them long.

 

[M0LTEN]

I have 19k on the car, not sure if the actuator could be the cause of my intermittent A/C problems but I at least know what to look for.

The actuator assembly failure rate seems a little high. Ford needs to take another look at the DFMEA on this and fix the issue.
There should be a Technical buletine out on this issue at least.

 

[jeff]

Thanks guys. Yeah this should be a recall imho but as other dealers have told me they only recall if it's safety related.

MOLTEN, I was the same as you, that's why it took a few weeks to get it to the dealer, I wanted to make sure the problem was replicated in their presence. I'm pretty sure the compressor issues and intermittent cold air is not related to the actuator.

There are a few threads on the actuator, a common problem, here's one:

http://www.fiestastforum.com/forum/threads/5993-Clicking-noise-coming-from-the-center-console

 

[konatodd]

Noticed my 2016 isn't cooling while at idle...Once moving it seems to be doing the job. Thought that maybe it was a low charge, but we'll see what the dealer says Wednesday.

 

[jeff]

Just found this:

Ford2014 Ford Fiesta Air Brake Compressor TSBs

TSB Number:
44972
NHTSA Number:
10058205
TSB Date:
March 1, 2015
Date Added to File:
August 14, 2015
Failing Component:
Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Compressor
Summary:
Ford 2014-2015 fiesta : service bulletin information regarding fiesta vehicles being stored for extended time, may experience a/c compressor lockup on start.

 

[eleven]

My A/C works 1% of the time too. We should link the Ford Rep that's on here all of the time for assistance.

 

[jeff]

My A/C works 1% of the time too. We should link the Ford Rep that's on here all of the time for assistance.

Dang man that stinks. At least I feel a bit better, I thought I was the only one, I haven't read too much about folks here with A/C issues. Heck Bryan aka Antarctica has 161,xxx on his car and his air has never had a problem.

Did you get it looked at by the dealer?

 

[jeff]

Car fixed. Dealer had it 4 business days. Replaced compressor and actuator.

Crossing my fingers....

 

[Khill007]

Car fixed. Dealer had it 4 business days. Replaced compressor and actuator.

Crossing my fingers....

Is AC still working? Dealer replaced all of this shit on mine a weeks ago and it still shuts down when ambient air temp reaches 85 degrees?!? Dropping off this morning.

 

[me32]

F.O.R.D = First On Race Day. not sure what the problem is.

 

[Khill007]

F.O.R.D = First On Race Day. not sure what the problem is.

F.O.R.D = Found On Road Dead

; )

 

[me32]

F.O.R.D = Found On Road Dead

; )

Lol never heard of it

 

[Khill007]

Lol never heard of it

I believe its a TX thang?!?

Ha!

 

[me32]

I believe its a TX thang?!?

Ha!

Lol fair enough

 

[jeff]

Is AC still working? Dealer replaced all of this shit on mine a weeks ago and it still shuts down when ambient air temp reaches 85 degrees?!? Dropping off this morning.

Sorry to hear man. Mine is working fine, over 100 degrees it struggles but I'm used to a Honda which is always ice cold no matter what.

Good luck!

 

[JTP]

Couple weekends ago my A/C decided to stop blowing cold air as well when I was driving. It worked when we left LA on our way to Santa Clarita, but when the temps went from 80 to 100 it just started blowing warm air. When I was 2 mins from my destination it started blowing cold again maybe should take it in....... 2015 ST with 8.5k miles.

My Subaru A/C is a tank that thing blows cold no matter what!

 

[stormcrow]

I believe its a TX thang?!?

Ha!

Nah. GA here and have heard it. My fave: F.O.R.D = Fscked Over Rebuilt Dodge

 

[me32]

Nah. GA here and have heard it. My fave: F.O.R.D = Fscked Over Rebuilt Dodge

Killing me guys. Wheres the bleed ford blue guys at