Thread: Airconditioning compressor kaput

Hmmm. Grant/Graeme, take note! My pleasure Greg, hope your 2nd one lasts longer than mine...
cheers

Mine has done only 28K so it hope it lasts a while yet. Not good prospects though.

wonder if it is the control valve. As these will be variable displacement compressors they have a control valve (the RCV) in the back which controls the angle of the internal washboard, which alters the displacement.

Other makes that introduced variable compressors well before LR have seen compressor failures for several years and the dealers (as dealers do) replace the compressor for an eye-watering sum. It is only lately that the enthusiast, handy owners have discovered that the $30 RCV sticks or fails with the result of no AC output. Drain refrigerant, replace RCV, recharge refrigerant all done.

The RCV I removed last year was dirty

Originally Posted by CSBrisie

Hmmm. Grant/Graeme, take note! My pleasure Greg, hope your 2nd one lasts longer than mine...
cheers

Chris, mine was done in March 15 but that is 28,000 k ago. Still seems to be working ok at present!

I noted that the a/c compressor in my 2010 3.0 D4 was the old style fitted with a clutch whereas the 2.7 engines all were variable displacement type.

Harlie - its very good to know that the RCV is replaceable and can indeed be sourced. I wondered if the 4.4 had that style of compressor (have yet to check for a clutch or RCV) and if so, if a sticky valve was the cause.

Edit: That looks like a clutch on the front of mine and will check later to see if it moves. I wonder if the compressors are variable displacement and also fitted with a clutch.

This many failures - surely it is variable, the old style clutch activated fixed capacity compressors are very reliable.

Greg, what's the chance you can get photos of the old compressor for record? Assuming it is variable, now is a good time to prepare (for future out of warranty failures) - the RCV will be sourced based on the compressor manufacturer (Sanden/Bosch/Denso/ect) model number - there will be a plate on it with text. Much easier to photograph it on the bench . Our other car which is what I replaced the RCV on, was near impossible to get the details in situ, ended up sticking a phone down there and took more than 30 photos before I got the plate in frame and focus.

The LR part number is of no use....

Originally Posted by Graeme

.....

Edit: That looks like a clutch on the front of mine and will check later to see if it moves. I wonder if the compressors are variable displacement and also fitted with a clutch.

There is a sacrificial clutch on the variable compressors, it is designed to let go it the compressor seizes and not trash the belt which may be running other devices.

They certainly used to make AC that lasted - The AC in my 86 Rangie was going fine up until I changed engines the other year and the 03 L322 is still going strong. Looks like a new fangled design has let you down.

Yes, variable displacement type as the shaft spins even with the a/c switched off. That's both good and bad news for the same reason - that it has an RCV.