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hello all,

im new to this forum, need help.  i have a 2011 escalade ESV,  a/c stopped blowing cold air, the compressor is not kicking on.  looked further into it and im getting no power to the compressor, any thoughts or solutuions would be helpful.  thanks in advance

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You will need to download the trouble codes from your on board Diagnotic system.  You will need a scanner that extracts Body or B codes.  Post them here.  It is possible you lost you freon charge and the low pressure switch shut off the compressor clutch circuit to protect the compressor but without the codes that may be stored in your system that is just a guess.  But that would be why you don't get power.

Some auto parts stores offer a service where they will read the codes for you but I am not sure if they can read B codes.  

If you have on star I believe they can read the codes.  If its not activated there may be a short subscription you can get I am not sure though.

As a test, and I mean as a test and after you have exhausted every other alternative, if and only to diagnose a possibility that you have low refrigerant, you can disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes  (negative side only!!) and then reconnect it.  That should delete any (and all) codes including the AC codes and if you had a code for low refrigerant the compressor should start with the AC on. The system should recognize the low refrigerant and re-set the code but do NOT run the AC this way, do it only for diagnosis and then turn it off.

If it engaged or started you are pretty safe to assume that your problem is low freon.   I think that is odd for a 5 year old car, so it could be that you developed a leak, a sensor or seal leaked or a rock or something dinged your condenser.  Take it to a good AC shop, and have them evacuate the system and recharge it, have them add a dye charge so you if you have a leak it will be obvious.  The evacuate will find large leaks as they will not be able so suck a strong vacuum of say -30 psi.  Ask them about an oil charge given you lost pressure an oil charge might be good for the seals but don't have them use sealer.

I think the heating system runs the AC in the winter to provide dehumidified air to the defroster so its not nesessary to run the AC during the winter as it was in the old days, but I for one think it is unusual for a 5 year old car to need a charge but maybe its not unusual, I am curious what others think

Let us know what happens

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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  • 2 weeks later...

ok, so i ventured more and learned to jump out the a/c compressor relay with a paperclip and the compressor kicked on and i was getting cold air.  what confuses me is the relay for the compressor is good.  i also learned that maybe the low pressure switch is not engaging either because of too little freon or too much.  my next question is, will i damage anything if i leave the relay jumped out for a day tops?  just to get it to a good a/c mechanic

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If because of low freon, the low pressure switch shut off the compressor and you jump either the low pressure switch or relay you can damage the compressor.

 

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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