Why does my air con take so long to get cold?

[CountP]

Before I take my vehicle in to a air con place, and it starts costing money, I thought I would quiz some other D2 owners.
My climate control seems to take a ages to start pushing out cold air.
In the Auto mode, some days the only way I can get cold air is by taking the temp setting all the way up to high and then back down to the temp I want. This almost always gets me cold air immediately. Once it starts getting cold it then works fine.
I have checked the system and there are no fault codes.
I have removed and cleaned the temp sensor behind the driver side grill and the little fan is spinning.
I don't know when last the system was serviced, if ever.
Is it usual to replace the receiver driers on these systems?

I have been bitten before by a supposedly reputable air con / radiator company and want to at least have some knowledge before I walk in.

Thanks
Ryan

[CraigH]

Try checking and cleaning the condenser for derbies and road grime.
With the A/C on MAX, feel the low pressure pipe coming out of the compressor. It should be really cold, even forming some condensation on it.
With the A/C on MAX, is the compressor staying engaged? Or is it cycling on and off ?

Have a good look around under the bonnet at all the A/C fittings, pipes and hoses. If there is signs of a oily residue which usually will have dirt and dust attracted to it, you may have a leak.

I just had mine serviced, evacuate and re charge with new gas, oil and new receiver dryer. It hadn't been touched in 10 years and was down on gas, so I thought it was a good time to get it back up to spec ready for summer.

Hope that might help.

Cheers

Craig

[CountP]

Thanks I will have a poke around later.
What did the service and receiver drier cost?
Ryan

[CraigH]

Because I had the dual A/C system (front & rear) it holds more gas, so costs more than a single system. I had a mobile guy come out, cost $400 the lot. The receiver dryer isn't expensive, it's the gas that's costs the $$$.

Cheers

Craig

[CountP]

I thought I would close this off in case anyone else has similar problems.
The aircon guy tested the pressure and there was 100 psi at 25 degrees C which he said was sufficient.
Long story short after swoping and testing a few sensors I had found nothing wrong and was preparing myself for a big bill at the auto electrician with visions of having to pull the dash apart.
Anyway as a last resort I checked the fuses and relays. In the engine bay fuse box I swopped the aircon and hooter relay as they are the same. Immediately I had instant cold air and no hooter. At this point I felt like I had won the lottery.
So popped the faulty relay open and found a lot of black ash.
So new relay and all is good with the world.

[CraigH]

You have just reminded me! When the guy serviced mine he swapped the A/C relay for the horn. They were still working his thinking was the A/C does a lot more work than the horn so we will share the wear around...

Craig

[VladTepes]

Why does my air con take so long to get cold?


- because it's in a Land Rover......


On the upside, and against all logic, and just to make you feel better... the air con in my new(old) Tdi Defender works REALLY well !