Hi everyone,
I replaced my SYNC 3 APIM in a 2017 Ford Kuga (1.5 EcoBoost) with a unit sourced from Singapore.
After replacing the APIM, the A/C compressor does not engage.
All components were checked by an electrician: relay, compressor, wiring and pressure sensors are OK.
If the relay is manually bridged, the compressor starts and the A/C works normally.
When pressing the A/C button, the compressor does not receive the command from the control unit.
Interestingly, when I toggle the A/C via FORScan, the button behavior is reversed (OFF shows ON and vice versa).
VIN: WF0AXXWPMAHB62548
Engine: 1.5 EcoBoost
Trim: Business
The car is a Ford Kuga 2017 with automatic climate control controlled by physical buttons (not via the SYNC screen).
I would really appreciate any help or suggestions, as I have been troubleshooting this issue for quite a long time without success.
I’ve attached current APIM As-Built configuration.
When the APIM still had the As-Built configuration from the donor vehicle (Singapore), the touch climate controls appeared on the SYNC screen. However, the behavior was reversed and the A/C compressor would not engage. In FORScan the parameter showed AC REQ = NO even when A/C was requested.
After that I programmed the APIM with the factory As-Built configuration from Motorcraft using my VIN (WF0AXXWPMAHB62548). After loading the correct VIN configuration the touch climate controls disappeared (which is correct for my vehicle because the climate is controlled by physical buttons), but now neither the touch controls nor the physical A/C button will engage the compressor.
Unfortunately I do not have access to an oscilloscope. However, the relay and compressor were tested by an electrician. If the relay contacts are bridged manually, the compressor engages and the A/C system cools normally. This suggests the relay, compressor and wiring are OK, but the control module is not sending the activation signal.
When the APIM still had the As-Built configuration from the donor vehicle (Singapore), the touch climate controls appeared on the SYNC screen. However, the behavior was reversed and the A/C compressor would not engage. In FORScan the parameter showed AC REQ = NO even when A/C was requested.
After that I programmed the APIM with the factory As-Built configuration from Motorcraft using my VIN (WF0AXXWPMAHB62548). After loading the correct VIN configuration the touch climate controls disappeared (which is correct for my vehicle because the climate is controlled by physical buttons), but now neither the touch controls nor the physical A/C button will engage the compressor.
Unfortunately I do not have access to an oscilloscope. However, the relay and compressor were tested by an electrician. If the relay contacts are bridged manually, the compressor engages and the A/C system cools normally. This suggests the relay, compressor and wiring are OK, but the control module is not sending the activation signal.
Bridging the relay tells me the compressor works but it does not tell me if the relay works. We need to know if the relay coil is being energized and if it is, does it activate the relay.
What happened to your original SYNC3 that you had to replace it?
My original SYNC 3 APIM was not faulty originally. I unfortunately bricked it while attempting a software upgrade from SYNC 3.0 to SYNC 3.4. After that the screen went black and the unit became unusable, so I replaced the APIM with another unit sourced from Singapore.
Regarding the relay: the relay and compressor were checked by an electrician and the compressor works when the relay contacts are bridged manually.
However, when the A/C button is pressed, the relay coil does not appear to receive the activation signal.
Also when monitoring HVAC data in FORScan, the parameter AC Request does not change when the A/C button is pressed.
Do you have single or dual zone HVAC? Check your asbuilt…
7D0-04-01 xxxx xxXX xx–
0100 1C00 251E
This sets Automatic Dual Zone, do you have Manual controls?
Your OEM asbuilt indicates you do have automatic dual controls…but you have discrepancies in both asbuilts at 7D0-04-01 and 7D0-02-02. These need to align…
0100 1C01 251F
I already tried changing those configuration values based on AI suggestions. I switched them from manual climate control to automatic dual zone climate control and back again, but it made no difference. Unfortunately the A/C behavior is still the same and the compressor still does not engage.
I physically disconnected the APIM and tested the air conditioning, but the result was exactly the same. The A/C still does not engage and the compressor is not switching on. There was no change after disconnecting the APIM.
No, my Kuga never had climate controls on the Sync screen. Climate control has always been handled by the physical buttons only.
I disconnected the APIM completely and tested it again. The A/C compressor still does not engage, so it doesn’t appear that the APIM is involved in the issue.
One more question: on a 2017 Kuga/Escape with physical climate controls only, should the A/C compressor still engage with the APIM completely disconnected?
I disconnected the APIM and the behavior didn’t change, but I’d like to know what the expected behavior is according to Ford documentation or real-world experience.
Can you make a screenshot in ForScan with part numbers of modules you have in car. This will help me to see config of the right modules. A/C almost at every Ford engaged when the HVAC or EATC send a message to PCM which allow relay to engage.
I haven’t worked with the Kuga, but it’s a Focus family. In the Focus, the APIM can duplicate information, but it only serves as a display. This is the case in most Fords with a climate control module.
Lets Start from the simple things… Do you check the fuses? In your case F71 and F85 in BCM. Also F34 in battery junction box, F27 works as you shorten the relay and it engage the compressor.