| Author | Message | ||
     Ted Haug (D1ted) New Member Username: D1ted Post Number: 14 Registered: 12-2002 |
Here are the details.... The A/C in my 1996 D1 has been great, almost too cold some days. It was working two days ago, and then last night I turned it on, and the electric fan at the condensor comes on, but the compressor doesn't engage? I check the various fuses and they seem okay. Is there something simple I am over looking? The problems seems electrical in nature, because the system had been working so well until last night. Any suggestions are always appreciated. Cheers, Ted 96 D1 (126,000 miles) | ||
| Ed Petrush (Exp) Member Username: Exp Post Number: 68 Registered: 08-2002 |
is the a/c switch lighting up? mine failed and dealer tried to charge me $400 in diagnosing this.. if the light doesn't light up.. then you might have a bad switch, also check the lead to the compressor (test light to see if power is going to the clutch harness) | ||
| Mike Goodell (Mikegoodell) Member Username: Mikegoodell Post Number: 79 Registered: 11-2002 |
The AC won't engage unless you have the blower turned on, I beat my head against the wall for a few minutes to figure that out one sweltering day. Mike G 96 Disco SD | ||
| Ted Haug (D1ted) New Member Username: D1ted Post Number: 15 Registered: 12-2002 |
Thanks for the responses...here are some more details: the a/c light on the dash does light up when it is pressed in, and the blower is on. So those two things can get checked off the list. I will check to see if I am getting current to the clutch harness. If there is no power at the harness, what might be the cause? Switch seems to be working, and the fuses are okay? Thanks again for the quick reply. Cheers, Ted | ||
| Ed Petrush (Exp) Member Username: Exp Post Number: 70 Registered: 08-2002 |
can you see freon in the bubble? there is a shutoff if there is not enough coolant in the system... | ||
| Ted Haug (D1ted) New Member Username: D1ted Post Number: 16 Registered: 12-2002 |
I didn't check the site glass, but I can't see anywhere that the R134a might have gone (no obvious spots of refrigerant oil). The system did not seem as though it was low on charge, but I suppose it could be.... I will check the site glass when I get home. Thanks for the suggestion. Ted | ||
| Porter Mann (Porter) New Member Username: Porter Post Number: 35 Registered: 05-2003 |
how do you tell how low on refrigerant you are? Is there a guage or a meter that can be applied? I'm assuming the bubble will tell you if you have any or not, but what about just "topping off" the the level. | ||
| Ted Haug (D1ted) New Member Username: D1ted Post Number: 17 Registered: 12-2002 |
Porter, With a guage set, you would be able to tell if the system is low. I don't have the guage set, but a friend does commercial refrigeration & a/c work, so he will be able to check the charge. I think Ed was just suggesting that I check the site glass on the dryer to see if I could see any bubbles (indicating the presence of a charge). I don't know if I will be able to see any bubbles if the compressor is not engaged, but it's worth a shot. I was hoping that someone had experienced this situation before, and it would be electrical and easy to remedy....so far I haven't been too lucky. (Here's hoping it's not the compressor) Cheers, Ted | ||
| Tony Zuniga (Tony23007) Member Username: Tony23007 Post Number: 171 Registered: 05-2003 |
Ted, I had the same problem happen to me last weekend, the compressor just would not kick back on. I let the truck sit idle for the night and next morning it came back on. I suspect that the ECU was reading hot therefore it shut my AC off, after the engine cooled off the AC kicked back on. I am currently having that problem when I drive the car for a long period of time in stop and go traffic my AC cut's off and it takes a while to kick back on, I suspect the radiator but I am not sure. Hope this helps. | ||
| Robert Pate (Racerx) New Member Username: Racerx Post Number: 5 Registered: 08-2003 |
Ted I was having the same problem as Tony. The A/C would not work in stop and go traffic. On the hwy it was ok. Had it looked at and was told it was over charged. The tech reclaimed some of the refreg still didn't work. I flushed my radiator this weekend for the first time in years and now the A/C is blowing cool in stop and go traffic. Still not cold so Im wondering if my system is now a little undercharged. | ||
| Bill Howell (Billh13) Member Username: Billh13 Post Number: 160 Registered: 03-2003 |
Could be the A/C relay. See if you are getting power to the compressor. The switch only runs the low amps side of the relay. Keep us posted! | ||
| Ted Haug (D1ted) New Member Username: D1ted Post Number: 18 Registered: 12-2002 |
Here's the latest update on the a/c saga... I check the current to the compressor, and there was none. If I jumped the circuit at the high pressure switch, it would then energize the compressor, and it would run fine. But still no cold air...so I think I may have lost the charge somehow. I will be taking her up to friend who does commercial a/c work for a living, and have him check the charge, and see if we can locate any leaks. I will keep you all posted. Thanks for all the input. Ted 96 D1 | ||
| Tony Zuniga (Tony23007) Member Username: Tony23007 Post Number: 178 Registered: 05-2003 |
Bill, Where is the AC/relay located, can this be changed ?? Thanks Tony | ||
| Jim Gerhardt (Cweimaraner) New Member Username: Cweimaraner Post Number: 2 Registered: 08-2003 |
Troubleshoot as follows: 1. Check charge - if to low, comprssor won't engage. If you jump it, everything will operate, but you won't get cold air. While the compressor is running (jumped or not), watch for milky substance crusing by... actually they are air bubbles, but this would indicate low charge due to leak in system. 2. If all is ok with #1, and rely is good, my guess would be the compressor clutch. I'm not sure if you can reset the gap on LR's. I just finished this job on my Taurus SHO and she is blowing cold all the time. Wallmart has a inexpensive gauge to check for charge. But if you have to charge system, buy the hoses with the brass ends, the plastic ones just don't work for $#%t. Good luck! | ||
| Bill Howell (Billh13) Member Username: Billh13 Post Number: 164 Registered: 03-2003 |
Tony, I have no idea on the Disco where the relay is. All vehicles have them. The amps are too much for just a switch. I will look in my manual and see if I can find it for you. |
