I've dreaded this day for a while now. It happened once before, but turned out to be a loose relay under the bonnet. Now, as of trying to use the A/C last night to defog the windows, it seems dead.

I know it worked not that long ago, earlier this year, so I doubt the system has a leak. When I click the snowflake button, the green light comes on, but no click of the relay and no 2nd speed fan, and no A/C.

I tried swapping relays around in that little box, no difference. Verified the fan works on low speed, and still nothing.

So, am I likely looking at a bad switch panel (seems unlikely), or is it the dreaded A/C electronic clutch that finally died on me?

If so, I seem to recall them being around $150, but I don't recall how hard of a job it is to replace. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated, if possible.

Cooper and I thank you in advance.

 

Could still be low on juice. There is a sensor that detects pressure, once it gets below a certain point, everything shuts down. Soo, I'd get the pressure checked first. If it is low, might want to spend a bit more to find the leak.

 

Before you spend any real money, I would simply add a pound of Freon and see if it turns on.

///Rich

 

We used an AC pressure gauge to check, it it shows that the levels are fine. So, it could be a switch somewhere or the AC clutch itself. I need to find a good MINI shop in Portland.

 

From EMPTY, the system only hold about a POUND of R134a...everything about the MINI is mini...even the a/c system....
Overfilling can cause more $$ issues... Like compressor failures...or physical failures of hoses..
The OP stated he used a set of guages to measure pressures to infer the fill level....the 100% correct first step (or second with the relay swaps)...