By Antony K on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 04:31 am: Edit

1997 Discovery V8 3.9i ES.

When I bought my Disco a month ago, I was informed by the vendor that the whole air conditioning had been replaced under warranty. I'm sure when I bought the truck that the aircon was working fine but now I want to actually use it, it isn't and it's cast doubt over whether it was actually working ever. The two electric cooling fans come on near the front grill but there's no chilling effect noticable from the blowers inside the cabin, either front or back. I've left it running for an hour or so to no avail.

There is supposed to be a viewing point on the coolant pipe somewhere to check that there is coolant in the system but I can't find it.

Does anybody have any ideas please?

Antony.

By Antony K on Thursday, May 10, 2001 - 06:36 am: Edit

Subsequently....

The air conditioning now works although it sometimes takes an age for cold air to come through.

Previously, I could get the two fans near the radiator to come on but nothing else happened.

For a day the aurcon worked as I think it should. Now, whenever I turn the ignition on the two fans immediately start. This is regardless of whether the aircon putton is pressed or not. Do i have a fault or is this normal please? I've never had a vehicle with aircon before. You don't normally need it in the UK......

By Tom on Thursday, May 10, 2001 - 02:55 pm: Edit

Antony,

You could simply need a charge. Has it been charged recently? My 97's did not work AT ALL, then $100 and an AC charge later it works flawlessly. While they are charging, have them also check for leaks and get those fixed.

Tom

By Jon on Friday, May 11, 2001 - 10:29 am: Edit

Sounds like you just need a re-charge. Air conditiong systems that don't get used much will lose their charge faster than those used frequently (don't know why, they just do). I don't understand the bit about the cooling fans, though. I've heard it mentioned about other people having probelms with their A/C switch on the climate control in the cabin. That could be your case, since you just started using it more and the silly little Lucas switch can't hold-up under all the new attention. There's one other sensor that could be bad, and that's the A/C thermostat switch located on the side of the metal neck heading into the thermostat on the engine. If it goes bad, I've heard of it causing the cooling fans to run constantly because it's telling the engine that it's running too hot. Just some things to look at.

By Norm on Friday, May 11, 2001 - 11:27 am: Edit

I recently purchased a 97 Disco SE back in March ...how cold should the AC be, I seems a bit on the not so cold side. How cold is everyone's AC.

Thoughts

Norm

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Friday, May 11, 2001 - 11:40 am: Edit

Norm,

Get a test and charge. It should be pretty darn cold, especially in these spring months. Of course, when it is 100 degrees out in the middle of the afternoon, it takes a lot to get the big rover cold.

Tom

By Antony K on Friday, May 11, 2001 - 11:43 am: Edit

Well I've only just started using mine Norm but I'll put it on full blast when I get the next available moment and take some readings on a theremometer inside and outside the truck in the shade after 10 mins or so of running.

I can tell that it's working but it does take some time to come through... or it did till my fans decided to stay on!!!

Will take everyones advice this weekend and try to fix it. Many thanks all.

Antony.

By Leslie on Friday, May 11, 2001 - 12:36 pm: Edit

I have to admit, you could hang meat in my Disco even in the summer here in the southeast, if you've got the air on. I really think that LR was thinking about hotter places than here when they designed it...

By Meaty on Friday, May 11, 2001 - 01:14 pm: Edit

I would like to be the one to hang that meat. How about it?

By Leslie on Friday, May 11, 2001 - 01:24 pm: Edit

Uh...
Meaty, dude, if you only knew just how I ugly I am....

6', 230lbs ex-infantry Marine... only my wife can say that she thinks I'm cute... everyone else runs and hides!

LOL!!! ;)


-L

By Norm Davis on Saturday, May 12, 2001 - 12:22 am: Edit

Thanks for the advice I think I will have it charged up its just not as cold the 91 BMW...that thing could be an ice cream truck. We had a couple of warm days in CT and I wasn't impressed......have a good weekend.


Norm

By David on Sunday, May 13, 2001 - 01:21 am: Edit

Taking about Air Conditioners on Disco I's..I turned on the "recirculating switch" while running the AC the other day..and heard a momentary "swoosh" sound as I belive this is normal. After that one time, whenever I press the "recirculating Switch" on while the Ac is running, I no longer hear any sounds nor any changes whatsoever. How do I know if the recircuating switch" is working and what do I listen for or look for when I press it on. Thanks!

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Sunday, May 13, 2001 - 11:04 am: Edit

David,

You can tell if it is working if the air blows harder and faster with it on. Don't know about the "swoosh", though.

By David on Monday, May 14, 2001 - 12:41 am: Edit

Tom,

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, thats what I suspected to hear based on the one or two times when I did press the re-cirulating switch on when I had the AC running. Since that time, whenever I now press the recirulating switch on the dash, there is no change whatsoever in the amount of air blown or any perceptable differnence in anything. Any ideas what might have gone bad? The actual recirculating switch itself? If so, is it easy to pop out (the switch on the dash) and put in another one? I appreciate any feedback on resolving this..thanks!

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Monday, May 14, 2001 - 11:06 am: Edit

David,

Unfortunately, this has surpassed my knowledge. I would try checking all your fuses and relays, since that is about a 5 minute job. Beyond, that, however, maybe somebody with more knowledge can chime in...

Tom

By David on Tuesday, May 15, 2001 - 02:30 am: Edit

Hi Tom,

Again appreciate the feedback. I too will await to see if someone knows what I can do about my "recirculation switch" problem and how to fix it. Thanks!

David