Thread: Defender ac

I hope this helps.
The defender has two separate systems, one for the heater air flow to the screen and footwell vents. (also blows ambient temperature air if the heater slide is set to cool).The fan switch on this unit just increases the air flow for the heating or ambient air flow.

The other system is the airconditioner, it blows air out of the centre vents. You need the a/c fan running, then set the a/c cooling to one of the positions on the switch with the blue indications.

Trev.

I have found ideally turn on the fan then the thermostat. I found that if you leave the thermostat flat out then turn on the fan sometimes it does not get cold or is not effective.

Got me buggered the defender aircon, two months now and still can't work it out!

Seems to have a fair bit to do with outside air temp. Above 35 degrees it's blowing warm air, below that temp and it's freezing my kneecaps.

I also find the fan speed at two blows cooler air than at full speed.

Overall I would have to say they are the poorest designed and poorest efficiency of any air conditioners I have seen. For taking up so much room they should freeze the whole car and the surrounding countryside. But at most they freeze your knees.

I have been looking around for a aftermarket AC for my defender. But the way people are talking here - is it worth the trouble? ia the AC worthwhile in say 35 to 45 degree heat?
paul

Im with you on that,... and to make it worse,.. my nobs have no marking left on them,.. I thought I could work it out after a while,.. but It is soo confusing, that it is messing with my head more then cooling me down,.. Im tempted to rip it out and find a cheap roof mounted one,.. if only I didnt allready have a cage up there,..
can some one with a Defender Please take a pick of the dials on the air con if they still have it read able??

<span style="color:blue">if they had a recirculate function they would freeze more than just your knees.....!!

the problem is they are taking in air at 35 degrees and blowing it out at ....
lets say for arguements sake....25 degrees.....

25 degree air temp for me is still hot.....especially when the rest of the vehicle is
way hotter than the 35 degree outside airtemp.....


now if it had recirculate.....it would then take air at less than 35 degrees...
as it has already been cooled a bit......and cool it down by another 10 degrees......
so...after about 10 or 15 minutes.....it should be cold enough to want to turn the aircond down.....

now if someone has a way to get them to use the air from inside the cabin....
it should make them a lot more efficient......</span>

The biggest problem with them is they do not seem to have a selectable recirc setting. I checked mine out and it appears to suck air in from around the floor area.
Permanent recirc?
Having such a hot car, (most defenders have crappy insulation), the faster you draw air over the a/c the less efficient it actually is. Slowing the air flow down actually helps.
I have added insulation under my floor mats, under the cubby box, under the seats, and any exposed metal area's in the cabin. Apart from being quieter it really helps.
My two knobs, (see pics in my signature bar link), point at about 40 degs down from right to left for off. Each click upwards gives more air flow or greater cooling.The left hand one is the a/c control, the right hand one fan speed.

Don't forget to close off the air inlet on the instrument fascia. All 3 levers up to the highest point, otherwise you have ambient air coming in to the cabin as you are trying to cool it down.
Most inefficient!

Trev.