P38A Aircon won’t blow cold

enjoi · Oct 28, 2021

Howdy,

The aircon in my 01 P38 only blows hot and I’m not sure where to start to diagnose.
I bought the car knowing it was stuffed and was going to take it a mechanic but the wait times are really long due to covid so I thought I might try have a poke around.

The fan speed control dial was busted so I took the hevac unit out and glued a connector back on that had fallen off which sorted that, and I’ve exercised the blend motors after seeing a video on YouTube about how turning the temp all the way up and all the way down can help seized blend motors but that didn’t really do anything either, apart from teach me that the aircon can get real toasty.

The ac compressor seems to be hot to the touch even when the car has only been on a few minutes, so not sure if perhaps that’s shot or if it’s normal to be hot.

Any ideas of what I can troubleshoot would be slick! Thanks!

Flossie · Oct 28, 2021

@romanrob the Aircon God might be able to help

Rubberknees · Oct 28, 2021

Is it gassed? Quite a few places will test and regas . Is the clutch engaging on end of pump? I know a daft one but is aircon button on or off?

Datatek · Oct 28, 2021

Check the two aircon pipes under the bonnet, one should be hot, the other cold. Most common problem is no gas due to a leaking condensor.

enjoi · Oct 29, 2021

Rubberknees said:
Is it gassed? Quite a few places will test and regas . Is the clutch engaging on end of pump? I know a daft one but is aircon button on or off?

When I was playing around the other day I noticed the aircon button wasn't even on... my hopes were high as I turned it on, however, still no cold air

Not sure how to tell if the clutch is engaging.

Datatek said:
Check the two aircon pipes under the bonnet, one should be hot, the other cold. Most common problem is no gas due to a leaking condensor.

I'll give that a go, thanks. I'll take the car to a mechanic to run a test on the ac gas.

Marshall8hp · Oct 29, 2021

If the orange light above the AC switch is ON, then the AC is OFF, as the switch turns the AC off. The assumption when the car was built, is that people would run the system in Auto Mode, i.e. AC on all the time as needed by the system. The switch turns it off.

As for is it engaged, have a look at the front of the compressor, if it is spinning around with the pulley it is engaged, if not, then it isn't.

enjoi · Oct 29, 2021

Marshall8hp said:
If the orange light above the AC switch is ON, then the AC is OFF, as the switch turns the AC off. The assumption when the car was built, is that people would run the system in Auto Mode, i.e. AC on all the time as needed by the system. The switch turns it off.

As for is it engaged, have a look at the front of the compressor, if it is spinning around with the pulley it is engaged, if not, then it isn't.

Oh interesting. That seems very backwards.
Thanks

The compressor does seem to be spinning okay.
https://youtube.com/shorts/UXQ9dDhrVyk

Rubberknees · Oct 29, 2021

enjoi said:
Oh interesting. That seems very backwards.
Thanks The compressor does seem to be spinning okay.
https://youtube.com/shorts/UXQ9dDhrVyk

Oh tis typical JLR thinking that

I would now go down the pressure test route. A lot off places will do it for free. Think it was Kwik Fit that if they couldn't gas the system there was no charge

tomcat59alan · Oct 29, 2021

Rubberknees said:
Oh tis typical JLR thinking that
I would now go down the pressure test route. A lot off places will do it for free. Think it was Kwik Fit that if they couldn't gas the system there was no charge

Do they have Kwik**** in Auz? Welcome @enjoi

Rubberknees · Oct 29, 2021

tomcat59alan said:
Do they have Kwik**** in Auz? Welcome @enjoi

Thought they were international or have an equivalent

tomcat59alan · Oct 29, 2021

Rubberknees said:
Thought they were international or have an equivalent

Could they find enough unqualified"technician's" to open internationally?

enjoi · Oct 29, 2021

tomcat59alan said:
Do they have Kwik**** in Auz? Welcome @enjoi

Thanks

! Can’t say I’ve ever heard of KwikFit.

Rubberknees said:
Thought they were international or have an equivalent

When I googled it, a place called Eagle Tyres showed up, not sure if they’re linked.

Called a reputable mechanic near me that was able to squeeze me in next week and said they can use some coloured dye or similar to assist detecting any leaks when they regas.

Rubberknees · Oct 29, 2021

tomcat59alan said:
Could they find enough unqualified"technician's" to open internationally?

Done OK with it over here

tomcat59alan · Oct 29, 2021

enjoi said:
Thanks ! Can’t say I’ve ever heard of KwikFit.

When I googled it, a place called Eagle Tyres showed up, not sure if they’re linked.

Called a reputable mechanic near me that was able to squeeze me in next week and said they can use some coloured dye or similar to assist detecting any leaks when they regas.

You haven't missed much if you've not heard of them, sounds like your guy knows what he's doing so stick with him.

Rubberknees · Oct 29, 2021

tomcat59alan said:
You haven't missed much if you've not heard of them, sounds like your guy knows what he's doing so stick with him.

Got to agree

tomcat59alan · Oct 29, 2021

Rubberknees said:
Got to agree

Ta,

Datatek · Oct 29, 2021

enjoi said:
Oh interesting. That seems very backwards.
Thanks The compressor does seem to be spinning okay.
https://youtube.com/shorts/UXQ9dDhrVyk

If the compressor clutch in engaging and the compressor is turning as opposed to just the pully turning, then there is gas in the system.

RangeRoller dt · Oct 29, 2021

Eagle is a brand of tyres. Cheap and nasty.

kermit_rr · Oct 29, 2021

Datatek said:
If the compressor clutch in engaging and the compressor is turning as opposed to just the pully turning, then there is gas in the system.

But possibly not enough to feel a noticeable temperature drop?

kermit_rr · Oct 29, 2021

Also don't forget to get the most from your air, you need to be moving to get decent air flow

P38A Aircon won’t blow cold

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