This isn't directly related to Proteges, so I'm just going to post in the General forum.

Does anyone know if the operation of a car's A/C system is inhibited below a certain air temperature? This morning, I couldn't get the A/C clutch to engage (and it was bloody cold too). This afternoon, after the sun has sat on the car for a while, the system works flawlessly.

I need to prove to a potential buyer that the A/C system works so that I get a fair price on it. I've never had this problem (or really noticed it) through the life of the car.

This is a 96 Ford Escort by the way.

Thanks.

 

Temperature shouldn't matter but it can. The colder it gets, the lower the static pressure of the A/C system is. The A/C system typically has high and low side pressure switches. The combination of being very cold and possibly having a low refridgerant charge may have caused the system pressure to be low enough that the low side pressure cycle switch wasn't engaged.