sraosa

I was driving with my a/c on high, and it suddenly shut off. No a/c, no heat, nothing comes out of the vents. I can hear a click when I turn the control, but that's all I get. This is a '98 Ford Taurus SE. I've had no other issues with the car, mechanical or otherwise. Blown fuse, or something more serious? (It happened on my way to work, so I haven't had a chance to check the fuses myself yet.)

Thanks.

jwko

Does the blower run?

sraosa

I'm not sure. Very very little air is coming out, but even when I turn on the vent alone, nothing is really coming out. Possibly relevant, I had just come off of a 3-4 gravel road; is it possible something is just clogged, blocking the air flow? I could still feel the hitch in my car when the a/c was turned on, so *something* is working.

jwko

Does it have the electronic climate controls or the standard knob controls?

Could be a bad blower motor. When you turn up the fan switch can you hear it at all?

tomw

Check the voltage to the blower motor under the hood with the ignition to ON and the heater in vent, with the blower on HI. You should have voltage on one conductor, or read battery voltage between the two points on the connector. You could also give the motor a thump to see if the brushes have gotten worn out. If it re-starts with a thump, get a replacement blower motor.
If you do not have battery voltage, check the fuses and switch.
tom

sraosa

Knob controls. I do hear it, but it's like a clunky sound. It sounds like something stuck in the fan, to me, but I was told that's pretty much not possible. It makes a sound like if you put a stick in a fan blade. Nothing comes out, can't hear the blower at all, but I think the motor's okay. I still feel the hitch in the car when I turn it off and on. I'm taking it to a mechanic tomorrow to look at it. I spoke to someone yesterday, and he said he thought it might be the condensor, and I've lost freon, but there was nothing to indicate a problem before it just stopped.

jwko

Don't take it to that guy...He don't know what he's talking about.

The click you hear is more than likely the compressor kicking in which would mean it does have at least enough freon to allow it to engage. If it lost all freon, it (the compressor) wouldn't kick on at all. The condenser (in front of the radiator) does not have anything to do with the airflow that blows out of the vents. If your not getting airflow from any (defroster, floor or vents) of the outlets, the blower motor is not running. It could be the switch, fuse or the blower motor itself, but its for sure not the A/C system stopping it. Don't let them sell you a A/C overhaul. It's electrical.

tomw

If you can fit you hands under the hood, you can remove about 3 screws and the blower and motor will come out for inspection. You could then look inside for a popsicle stick or whatever is jamming the blower.
I agree that your tech may be way off base if he's looking at the condenser.
tom

jwko

Its under the dash