I am shopping for a 95-00 Ranger (2.5L and 4.0L) and have a question about the Ranger's air conditioning compressor. I have driven 4 Rangers and have tried to test the air conditioning and none of them will engage the compressor.
It is cool right now (below 30 degrees F) and was just told by a Ford mechanic that the compressor will not engage if below 30 degrees.
I also tried getting them to engage by selecting the selecting defrost and this also does not engage the compressor which was also told will not engage unless conditions demand it.
Is it true the compressor will not engage below 30 degrees F?? I have tried this on my 2000 explorer (5.0L V8) and it will engage the compressor at cold temps.

 

Im pretty sure mine kicks in at below 30deg, (ill pay attention next time) I know it kicks on above that temp though for the defrost.

normally on older rangers there is the opposite problem, where the cooling system is low on fluid and the pump kicks on a few times a minute.

You can check to see if the pump is disconnected by looking under the hood. (The usual half asked fix for the above problem) some of the rangers might not even have a/c.

 

if mine is on any setting excluding vent only, in any temperature (ie temp **** hot or cold, or hot or cold outside) the compressor will kick on and off.

 

my comp is always clicking on. only way to get rid of the humidity. every car or truck out there cycles the A/C comp for that reason.

 

There is a Low Pressure Cycling Switch that tells the PCM when to block power to the compressor clutch. This happens when the pressure drops below a set point that corresponds to about 34~38F in a properly charged system. The idea is to prevent the evaporator core from getting cold enough to form ice on the fins which would block airflow and reduce heat transfer.

 

This, the compressor is on when you have the vents set to defrost, or if you set the temp to cold and the outside temperature is above 15 Celsius if a remember what my owners manual says.

 

If the selector **** is set to A/C, MAX A/C, FLR/VENT, DEF, and DEF/FLR the A/C system is engaged. The only time the A/C system is not engaged is on floor or vent only.