TD5 AC/Compressor Idle time

[hghareeb]

Hi ,

It's summer hill time the temp. in Kuwait reach about 50's so i have to equip myself with a rugged weapon of AC :) ,, My 2005 defender TD5 that has an under dash Evaporator AC unit goes to idle compressor time frequently ( To prevent ice in evaporator ) however it seems the thermostat is calibrated a little under optimum temp. ,even when I switch it on the third (Coolest ) the compressor goes off early than it required , I think in such a climate if it kept on I mean the compressor all the time wouldn't freeze any internal unit .

Hence, Where shall I start from in order to modify/shorten the compressor idle time ?

Switch ? Doesn't the switch that has three setting act as a sender ? or moving the internal thermo. or change it to any aftermarket that might calibrated to a cooler temp. ?

Any thoughts !

Regards,

[91ramjet]

Hi in kuwait.

Im not too sure about the newer models but i know usually if you want to lengthen the cycle, locate the evaporator temp sensor it is usually placed on the top of the evaporator and sits inside a little copper tube. The sensor slides inside the tube which goes into the centre of the evaporator[the coldest part usually] you can slide this out of the tube thus taking it further from the coldest part of the evaporator. Not too sure if this will be the same as my car is a range rover classic and this is how mine is set up but i believe most are similar.

[hghareeb]

Thank for your reply, , im trying to avoid disassembling the evap. And will keep this as the last workaround.
maybe the easiest is to work with the switch if possible. any thought! !

[Blknight.aus]

take out one of the center vents in the ducting to increase the airflow over the evaporator and do something that will shift the hot air from the back of the cab to the passangers footwell.

[91ramjet]

Hi
It is quite a big job to remove the evaporator so i can understand it wanting to be a last resort. I had mine hard wired just with a simple switch on the dash to turn it off if it iced up. like you said i would hardly imagine that it would ice up in 50+ temps though.

[hghareeb]

Do you think there is some thing to do with the switch as long as its cotroling from 1 to 3? Maybe in some how i can add 4! !?
i feel that i can do some thing with switch maybe coz its acting as a signal sender! !

[91ramjet]

Hi

If you are talking about the fan speed controller? I wouldnt think that has anything to do with the temperature it usually only controls the fan. there may be a switch behind the temperature control switch[there is on mine]you may be able to do something there. Has it always cycled to often?

[hghareeb]

I mean this switch

[91ramjet]

Hi
yes that is only the fan speed controller it will have nothing to do with temperature. If you were to have any luck with modifying a switch at all it would be the temperature switch the one that switches from cold to hot. you will find if you have it halfway between hot and cold the compressor will cycle more often[turn off earlier] and if you put it on cold it will stay on for longer. you could start by having a look there. I dont think it will work though. I would just hardwire the clutch via your ignition and see how it goes. has it always done this? it may need more gas in the system?

[djam1]

Sorry this is not the fan switch but the thermostat next to the fan switch
They have 2 switches and the original question is a valid one
I put a normal mechanical thermostat on top of the condenser and disconnect the original one ( only because it failed )
That way you can adjust the thermostat but the thermostat switch pictured still works
Don't think it helped that much because I have the same frustration as you


Hi
yes that is only the fan speed controller it will have nothing to do with temperature. If you were to have any luck with modifying a switch at all it would be the temperature switch the one that switches from cold to hot. you will find if you have it halfway between hot and cold the compressor will cycle more often[turn off earlier] and if you put it on cold it will stay on for longer. you could start by having a look there. I dont think it will work though. I would just hardwire the clutch via your ignition and see how it goes. has it always done this? it may need more gas in the system?

[hghareeb]

Thank u for your reply,

its not gas issue, its even not a fault or a problem its the way land rover did it to expand the compressor and other ac component life.

installing thermostat on top if the condenser looks very clever alternative solution for a faulty internal thermo. However i still feel that i can do something with that switch as a stright replacement and upgrade.

any idea what would be the google search for such a switch?

[Blknight.aus]

try this

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/33659-fixing-td5-d110-aircon.html