issue with Air Con - 1998 300TDi 130

[86mud]

Hi all

After driving the vehicle for extended periods - over say 20 minutes, the aircon seems to peeter out. I can still hear the fan blowing, but the air just doesn't seem to come as well as it did when I first started the journey.

I was driving from Brisbane up to Palmwoods on the Bruce highway for a job interview yesterday (nothing like driving a 130 in a suit!) but after about 40 kms, I had ice forming on the first vent on the passneger side, but hardly any air flowing out of any of the vents.

It's like it gets blocked somewhere.

When I stop the car, I have huge amounts of condensation flowing out of the pipe onto the ground.

Any easy fix or should I just drive naked with my windows down to keep cool?

Cheers
Andrew

[Scouse]

It could be freezing up & blocking the TX valve. Have you tried turning it down a bit (so it's not on maximum cold)?

[numpty]

Our Td5 does the same thing. Interestingly, when we complained to Austral (while the vehicle was still under warranty) they said they couldn't get it to perform the way we stated. Ours usually peters out after about 40 minutes, the second vent from the left has a greater air flow always and condensation forms on the inside.

One of these days, I'll get it checked out properly.

[Tusker]

Happens a lot..

Freezing over somewhere

When it happens, turn up the a/c fan, but turn off the a/c itself. Over the next couple of minutes the air flow will pick up as it unfreezes. Turn a/c back on, repeat as necessary.

I never have the a/c on the max setting for this reason, leave it down a notch & let the compressor cut in & out.

Regards
Max P

[numpty]

Happens a lot..

Freezing over somewhere

When it happens, turn up the a/c fan, but turn off the a/c itself. Over the next couple of minutes the air flow will pick up as it unfreezes. Turn a/c back on, repeat as necessary.

I never have the a/c on the max setting for this reason, leave it down a notch & let the compressor cut in & out.

Regards
Max P

I will try that next time. We very rarely have the a/c on max anyway.

[Don 130]

Our local aircon guru told us to put a thermometer probe onto the 1st vent and then set the system up to run with the thermometer no colder than 6deg. I used this one from Jaycar as it fits in the ducting where there is a louvre missing. Don


Thermometer Module with Alarm - Jaycar Electronics (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=XC0224&keywords=thermometer&form=KEYWORD)

[TwoUp]

I had the same problem 1999/2000 and found the temp sensor was dislodged so the unit went flat out and froze in about the same timeframe as yours, white air coming out of the vents looked good for a while. Had air-con people replaced the sensor and it worked from then on.

Regards,
PeterW

[isuzu110]

I had the same problem 1999/2000 and found the temp sensor was dislodged so the unit went flat out and froze in about the same timeframe as yours, white air coming out of the vents looked good for a while. Had air-con people replaced the sensor and it worked from then on.

Regards,
PeterW

Can you tell me where this sensor is ? Was it expensive to replace ?

Does anyone know where the TX valve is located in a defender ?

Thanks

[Allan]

Can you tell me where this sensor is ? Was it expensive to replace ?

Does anyone know where the TX valve is located in a defender ?

Thanks

Pm me with your email address and I will send you a file containing all the details

Allan

[VladTepes]

Hmm my AC was on teh blink buggered thermostat or something anyway since LR air con is next to useless anyway, the place saved me a firtuen by just settign it permanently to "max cold" i.e. I can;t change it. I;ve never had the problem you describe but then again its never been cold enough to freeze anything either !

[isuzu110]

As a follow up, I had the same symptoms 86 and had it fixed last week

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/106675-tdi-defender-air-conditioning-fixed.html