P38A Aircon Compressor Clutch

[p38arover]

As most early P38A owners will know, the air con clutch would occasionally not engage and eventually it slips and wears to the point where it rarely engages.

An early fix was to remove a shim behind the clutch but this only deferred the problem.

LR came up with a mod. kit, the aircon Compressor Link Harness, to increase the applied voltage to the compressor clutch:


Compressor clutch fails to engage due to low voltage levels at the compressor clutch connector. This allows varying degrees of slip and accelerated wear at the clutch faces when engagement is attempted, i.e. when ATC is switched on.

I removed the shim in mine about 7 years ago, and fitted the link harness about 3-4 years ago, and this cured the problem - I thought.

However, yesterday the compressor clutch failed to engage once more. The clutch had worn even more and the air gap was too great.

Following a suggestion from Scouse, I pulled the clutch off today, put it in the lathe, and machined off 25 thou from the back of the clutch spigot. That reduced the air gap back to within spec (0.35-0.65mm) and all is well once more.

When I pulled the clutch off, I found it had been wearing unevenly so I'll keep an eye out for another one (secondhand from a failed compressor).

Note the wear at the lower left:


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/447.jpg

The bit I machined down:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/448.jpg

[andrew e]

Try an airconditioning shop ron, i dont think it is a landrover specific part.

I know that the bosch p38/d2 ac compressor is the same as a toyota.

Andy

[PaulP38a]

Following a suggestion from Scouse, I pulled the clutch off today, put it in the lathe, and machined off 25 thou from the back of the clutch spigot. That reduced the air gap back to within spec (0.35-0.65mm) and all is well once more.


You've got a lathe? nice one... I dare not say what I'm thinking for fear of the dreaded "swear filter" :wasntme:
I gotta get me more toys... but don't tell my wife ;)

[p38arover]

You've got a lathe? nice one... I dare not say what I'm thinking for fear of the dreaded "swear filter" :wasntme:

I have but it's an oldie and small (about the size of a Hercus). When I retire I'm going to buy myself a shiny new one.


I gotta get me more toys... but don't tell my wife ;)

Do I need to give instructions on how to hide things in the garage?

[p38arover]

Try an airconditioning shop ron, i dont think it is a landrover specific part.

I know that the bosch p38/d2 ac compressor is the same as a toyota.

Andy

Thanks Andy. I only need the outer part of the clutch. LR sell it but only as part of a rebuild kit.

[PaulP38a]

Do I need to give instructions on how to hide things in the garage?

Nah, tried that - her FreeLoader takes up half of the garage anyway, and SWMO is smarter than me. If ever a car has to stay outside for the night 'coz something is in the way, guess which one it is? ...the pretty little Freelander or the Rangie? Perhaps I'll just extend the garage and build myself a "cave" in there...

sorry, I'm not actually contributing anything useful to this thread - I'll shut up now.

[p38arover]

sorry, I'm not actually contributing anything useful to this thread - I'll shut up now.

Why?

[Remy]

I suppose the nut holding the clutch came off easy?

[p38arover]

I suppose the nut holding the clutch came off easy?

Yep. I used a bigger strap wrench to hold the plate.

[karlz]

I suppose the nut holding the clutch came off easy?

Mine came off easy.

In fact it came off whilst offroad, lost the bolt but retained the clutch, it got wedged in between the radiator cowling and the compressor.

Had the compressor rebuilt (a bargain too). They also reshimmed and resurfaced the plate. AC has worked flawlessly for almost 12 months!

Is this a record?

[p38arover]

When I was in Seattle, I looked under the bonnet of rrtoadhall's P38A, then turned to him and said, "Your clutch is falling off".

The nut was that loose, it wouldn't have been long before it was gone.

[uzz32soarer]

As most early P38A owners will know, the air con clutch would occasionally not engage and eventually it slips and wears to the point where it rarely engages.

An early fix was to remove a shim behind the clutch but this only deferred the problem.

LR came up with a mod. kit, the aircon Compressor Link Harness, to increase the applied voltage to the compressor clutch:



I removed the shim in mine about 7 years ago, and fitted the link harness about 3-4 years ago, and this cured the problem - I thought.

However, yesterday the compressor clutch failed to engage once more. The clutch had worn even more and the air gap was too great.

Following a suggestion from Scouse, I pulled the clutch off today, put it in the lathe, and machined off 25 thou from the back of the clutch spigot. That reduced the air gap back to within spec (0.35-0.65mm) and all is well once more.

When I pulled the clutch off, I found it had been wearing unevenly so I'll keep an eye out for another one (secondhand from a failed compressor).

Note the wear at the lower left:


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/447.jpg

The bit I machined down:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/448.jpg


Hi Ron, old post dragged up but do you remember how to get the clutch off the front.

[p38arover]

Hi Rob,

If I recall correctly, I used a strap wrench to hold the clutch from rotating while I undid the nut.

[bee utey]

Last time I had to undo a clutch centre nut I just engaged the clutch.