Rangie aircon problem - ideas?

May need the refrigerant toping up / replacing. Had the Same symptoms on Mrs D's latest Disco. Got it tested and recharged (£75 at home service) and all was well again. I asked the chap who did it how often it needed to be doen and he said roughly every 3 years or so.. The more often it's used the longer it lasts if that makes any kind of sense!

Lee D

Check the freon levels - if the compressor is short cycling less than 30 seconds on / then off - then the freon may be low.

My wife's P38 - had one of the thermostatic motors go out. Randy Cunnihams' site has a excellent information on how to access the thermostatic motors. They are a real pain in the ... to get to. Since I leave in Houston - I just disable the central thermostatic motor and cranked in to MAX cool. With a clever piece of wire on the level arm - I can manipulate the temperature in about 2 minutes. So probably in December - I'll crank it to heat. Email me if you need the link.

The motors are about 130$ US - for the set of 3.

curtis

May be a silly question, but why would a lack of refrigerant stop the fans working? Was this an independent aircon magician - and if so, where did you find him (thoughts of 80GBP/hour main dealer charges...)?

BTW, the aircon is on 100% of the time. Even in a British winter, it makes the cabin a more pleasant place to be. The RR is now 7 years old, so maybe I should regard recharging as just maintenance at this stage.

Cheers.

(snip)>

Mine seems to have a pressure switch in the system which cuts the compressor and fans if the pressure of the refrigerant goes below a certain point. The first symptom of refrigerant leakage is the compressor not coming on.

Stephen

Thanks, Curtis. I had checked Andy's site and rangerovers.net, and while they contain valuable stuff on more major problems, mine seems to be much simpler. All the components seem to be working fine, except that the fans don't come on. It points to an electrical failure (fuse, connection) somewhere - I just wondered if anyone had had a similar problem. Out with the multimeter and chase it back, I suppose.

Richard> Hi all The aircon stopped working on the RR (P38a 4.6) Richard> yesterday - just before the warmest day of the last two Richard> months. Arse. It's blowing air at ambient temperature

I'd agree (from personal experience) with the other comments about low refrigerant. Get it gassed (I can recommend someone based around Ascot if you're in this part of the world), and they should add a dye to it too - then check a few weeks later for signs of leaks. It may be natural seepage, or you may have rotted a hole in the condensor.

Andy

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+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Andy Cunningham | Check out | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Everything you wanted to know || about the P38A Range Rover but were afraid to ask. |+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+"Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxumimmane mittam" (I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I willfling an enormous rock at your head.) -- Roman bank robber.

Whoops missed the fans not working bit... and I never had that. I'd begin to suspect a relay or as you have already a fuse somewhere.

The guy was discovered by word of mouth.. If your near to North Staffs or south west Derbyshire let me know and I'll post you his contact details.

Lee D

Ah yes - I'd read that but not quite remembered it. Thanks, makes sense.

Looks like it may be low on gas - I'll get it checked out. Fraid I'm in West Wales, so it needs to be a local outfit. Out with the yellowing pages.

Thanks to all for the input.

Found a local aircon specialist, but was strongly advised against them by a friend, so I let the main dealer have a look when I took it in for a service. They've recharged the system and now it works fine. It was checked with ultraviolet, too - no leaks found. Cost was just over a ton plus the dreaded. I don't know how this compares with an independent, but at least it's done.

Thanks Andy and the rest for the help.

Not bad at all for a main dealer, I paid an independent £70 to do mine.

Not been conned *too* badly, then :)

I asked how often they needed recharging, and they "recommended" every two years. I know that's a little make-work device, but the car has done 65K in

7 years with nothing to say it's been done before, so I guess that's more-or-less long-term maintenance.

Incidentally, they noticed that the air springs are starting to show early signs of cracking. I'd noticed that too, but I put it as one of those issues that get better if you ignore it. Anyone know a good bulk supplier of Sellotape?

My tame aircon specialist who does all my work recommends a "service" every two or three years. Generally he'll just check pressures, performance, A/C clutch bearings, leaks and clean out the condensor - charges about 20 quid. Going by the book A/C should have a new receiver/dryer every 3 years or so which will involve a re-gas and cost about 70 to 100 quid.

EMB was greatly moved, and spake thus, saying:

Should have read the service book more carefully. Thanks.

Not the RR book, the A/C bible.