2016 Ford Focus 2.3 RS
Discussion
A wee update, my car has been used maybe a handful of times since the lockdown started but there's now a (relatively small) problem with the car - the air conditioning isn't working.
I noticed in late May the air coming out the vents was no longer cold, and the revs wouldn't drop slightly when the air con was switched on (as they usually do).
Some googling appeared to show that the car senses when the pressure in the system is low and won't allow the compressor to run - I believe because the refrigerant also has lubricating properties and the refrigerant lubricates the compressor.
Unfortunately the sticker under the bonnet shows my car uses the R1234yf refrigerant which is the more expensive out of the two types!
I found somewhere local'ish that could refill the system a few weeks ago (3rd June) and had the refrigerant in stock (most places I called only had the R134a available) and they said they performed a leak test and refill - £130.00.
I then had some nice ice-cold air con, until earlier this week (see below) when I noticed it isn't working again.
Looks like I do have a leak somewhere. Damn. I'll need to get it booked in to be looked at, as, although I am in Scotland, there are times when I do need to use it. The car is out of warranty now so the bill will be payable by me.
I noticed it wasn't working for the 2nd time when I was on the way to one of those photographers that show their images on facebook - I'd seen quite a few of his previous images and was reasonably impressed so decided to get some shots of the RS.
We went to a Wind Farm visitors centre - a place called Whitelee which is in Ayrshire. The road to it is through Eaglesham Moor - quite a desolate single-track road with passing places.
The photographer arrived - Ryan from LomotiveUK Media - with his mate, another photographer, and I've added a couple of their images below:
Photo shoot on Eaglesham Moor road with LomotiveUK Media and Scott Murray Photography 9-7-20 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
Photo shoot on Eaglesham Moor road with LomotiveUK Media and Scott Murray Photography 9-7-20 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
Photo shoot on Eaglesham Moor road with LomotiveUK Media and Scott Murray Photography 9-7-20 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
I noticed in late May the air coming out the vents was no longer cold, and the revs wouldn't drop slightly when the air con was switched on (as they usually do).
Some googling appeared to show that the car senses when the pressure in the system is low and won't allow the compressor to run - I believe because the refrigerant also has lubricating properties and the refrigerant lubricates the compressor.
Unfortunately the sticker under the bonnet shows my car uses the R1234yf refrigerant which is the more expensive out of the two types!
I found somewhere local'ish that could refill the system a few weeks ago (3rd June) and had the refrigerant in stock (most places I called only had the R134a available) and they said they performed a leak test and refill - £130.00.
I then had some nice ice-cold air con, until earlier this week (see below) when I noticed it isn't working again.
Looks like I do have a leak somewhere. Damn. I'll need to get it booked in to be looked at, as, although I am in Scotland, there are times when I do need to use it. The car is out of warranty now so the bill will be payable by me.
I noticed it wasn't working for the 2nd time when I was on the way to one of those photographers that show their images on facebook - I'd seen quite a few of his previous images and was reasonably impressed so decided to get some shots of the RS.
We went to a Wind Farm visitors centre - a place called Whitelee which is in Ayrshire. The road to it is through Eaglesham Moor - quite a desolate single-track road with passing places.
The photographer arrived - Ryan from LomotiveUK Media - with his mate, another photographer, and I've added a couple of their images below:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50098679157_0fc870d6ed_c.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50098679092_ce6baae2a7_c.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50097870538_9d82697fe0_c.jpg)
Edited by oobster on Monday 13th July 13:28
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