A/C or no A/C

[Slunnie]

ok, this may potentially take the dumbest question award... actually I have had a dumber one in the past if I'm totally honest.

I have a 95 V8 manual 3dr. I had always been under the impression that it did not have an AC system in it.

So, tangent, I was fixing an idling problem (turned out to be a perished vac advance hose with a great big hole in it and a blocked port into the plenum), as I was shutting the bonnet I noticed there is an AC compressor. Checked the dash and there is no indication that I could see that the Disco has an AC system in it. Just a fan, heat/cool controls, demist and recirculate.

Any ideas? Clearly I have something grossly wrong somewhere. :unsure:

edit...... that icicle button that I thought was demist.... is that an AC button? :oops2:

176460

[trout1105]

Looks like one of them buttons on the dash switches the air con on/engages the clutch on the compressor.
Check to see if you have a faulty relay/fuse[thumbsupbig]

[Tins]

edit...... that icicle button that I thought was demist.... is that an AC button? :oops2:

176460

No such thing as a dumb question. Does that button look like this?176461
If so it's the AC button...

[Slunnie]

Legends, thanks for this! I always just had in my head that was a demist type function and had never used it. Clearly not a lot of critical thought put into it.

That is the same label on the button and I'll test it out. If it doesn't work I'll check the fuses etc.

Thanks again! I feel like this is a bit of a bonus that I never knew I had in the Disco! I hope it works.

[AK83]

also note that AC only works(or engages) when fan is set to run too(at any speed).

So you may have the snow icon engaged, or pressed in, and fan off .. therefore AC is still off .. just like your image shows.

[Slunnie]

also note that AC only works(or engages) when fan is set to run too(at any speed).

So you may have the snow icon engaged, or pressed in, and fan off .. therefore AC is still off .. just like your image shows.

Thanks for this! I've just given it a go. Looks like the AC system works, the switch lights up when operated, compressor engages but it doesn't blow cold - after all of these years it hopefully it just needs a regas with some luck but that may be optimistic.

[BradC]

If it's a 95 it might still be R12, so may need a conversion.
If so, get it done properly rather than the "add a little PAG on top of the mineral oil and fill-er up".

[Tins]

I hope it works.

It's a Disco so that is the real question.

[gusthedog]

Yep, that's the aircon button. My dash in my 97 is virtually the same. You won't get blown over by the blower motor speed. But if it's sat for a while you can be guaranteed the blower motor will be full of sticks/leaves/twigs. It's the black thing in the passenger foot well. Three posi drives and it comes out. Very easy to do. Just need to be a bit flexible! [emoji12]

[scarry]

If it's a 95 it might still be R12, so may need a conversion.
If so, get it done properly rather than the "add a little PAG on top of the mineral oil and fill-er up".

There will be a label under the bonnet somewhere designating what refrigerant is in it and the quantity.
One of my brothers has a '93 D1,and its R12.
Its lost its gas a couple of times,the leaks have been the seals around the condenser pipework joints.
I think around '95/'96 was when they changed to R134a,so as Brad said,could be either.

I know where there is some R12,but its a long way to go if you want some.[wink11]

If you havent missed the AC for all those years,maybe just leave it as is.....[biggrin]

[AK83]

.... You won't get blown over by the blower motor speed. .....

Mine is cyclonic!

My D2 tho .. pfft! [bighmmm]

Could be slightly rusted up motor/bearings .. I've pulled the D2 and found it almost seized.
Used one from the spare and found it a bit better, but not much.
Lots of INOX later, and a small smear of grease .. now with two in hand:

spare uses about 20amps at full whack .. original uses just under .. like 17 or so.
So could be windings, slightly tarnished connectors .. etc.

Another thing to look into(literally) is the condition of the foam seals around the inside of the dash, that hook up the HVAC unit to the actual vents themselves.
In my D1, all were so fragile they didn't seal. Move them and they crumbled into dust. So new sealing between HVAC unit outlets and vent ducts were needed before installing the complicated dash console.
I had nothing other than lots of high density packing foam(from the likes of LCD/LED screens, and such like) .. but not styrene tho.
Made rectangles, cut out just enough of the centres to keep them tight on the vents, no leaks .. cyclonic air out the vents.

If your Disco(1 or 2) has been molested by a pack of angry gorillas like my D2 .. you may find many smashed pieces of the HVAC unit all around the rear of the dash!
That is, it wasn't just leaking seals(as you'd expect after 20 something years ... it a rabbit warren of random venting all about the rear of the dash..

Much epoxy and duct tape later .. I thought I got it right .. but compared to D1 .. I reckon another shot at checking leaks may be needed.

[BathurstTom]

And the button to the left of the a/c button is the recirculation button - use air from outside the cabin for heating cooling or recirculate the air from within.