air con...

[spaced]

trying to test if the air con in my focus (2003 1.6 Zetec with climate pack) is working. Unfortunately as it is quite cold out anyway cant really tell the difference between normal cold external air or the air coming out when the air con is on. I know you are supposed to turn the temp dial all the way to cold, but as a test I turned the dial all the way to hot, let it heat up and then turned the air con on, to see if the temperature dropped slightly, signifying that the air con works. The hot air remaind hot. Is this a valid test in a focus, as it works in a Skoda Octavia? What is??

[qapmoc]

I should think that if you did it again but set the hot control so that the air is ''just'' about warm and then switch on the a/c you should easily notice the temperature change if the a/c is working.
You could also try letting the car get steamed up inside the windows and run the heating just warm and then switch on the a/c when the windows should clear really quickly within a minute or so if it is working OK.

[spaced]

will try that. Ta very much

[Toureman]

On your aircon set the air intake to recirculate, this means only the air inside the car is used and no air will enter the car from outside when you switch your aircon on. If the air is not cooler you have something wrong.

Check your handbook, it will tell you at what outside temprature the aircon will not switch on.

[bigdaddycain]

Does the engine note drop slightly when you switch it on? if it does it should be working.