A/C help needed please

[KevofCov]

2018 2.0ltr adblue LWB RWD 3.5t

I know what your thinking - sweat like the rest of us

My a/c is not working. The HVAC control appears to be working (lights are working). Am I right in thinking that I should be able to hear the both the a/c compressor relay and the a/c compressor clutch clicking when I select the a/c button (engine not running) Or does the system need the engine to be running before it will allow the reply/compressor to be activated?

[Altransit]

Nothing will work without the engine running, the first thing that starts up is usually the fan, and if that doesn't run, nothing else will start up.
I take it the gas has been checked

[KevofCov]

I'm checking as much as I can before I venture out to find an adult. I'm assuming the gas it ok after just 3yrs.

I'll try and listen with the engine running but if the cooling fan is not running I'm wasting my time then....

[Altransit]

The most frequent cause of A/C not working is low or no gas, so it's really the first thing to check. Most vehicles will lose a percentage of gas over a period of time, it just depends on how much and for how long.
There's not a lot of point moving on until this is done

[KevofCov]

Quick update
Called to a local tyre place - £84 to re-gas.
Also called Pete at RoadChill, Birmingham. He’s mobile and he found the leak, fixed it and regassed for £10 less than my tyre place charge to regas!
The fault was where the a/c pipes go through the bulk head - faulty washers. Great guy. It helped that somebody had previously added dye to the system.

He also said that systems never ‘need a regas’ – there’s always a fault. “you don’t regas your fridge do you” to quote him. Good point well put.

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[Altransit]

He also said that systems never ‘need a regas’ – there’s always a fault. “you don’t regas your fridge do you” to quote him. Good point well put.

He's right, in theory, but it's probably to do with the fact that vehicle A/C systems have a tougher life than a fridge, knocked and battered around and subject to constant vibration all the time when in use, so are more prone to leaking gas at the joints maybe

Every A/C equipped vehicle I've ever owned has needed a re-gas at some point in their lives, and I've had to replace 4 faulty compressors too - never had any of those problems with a fridge, apart from the one I stabbed with a screwdriver whilst trying to defrost it