Issue with AC on 2011 110

[Dslape]

Hi guys, the AC on my defender is playing up. Had it in the shop today and have been informed they think the error lies in the sensor on the condenser. Its basically saying its too cold and is freezing up. Long story short I have been told they have to pull the dash apart to get at it to sort the problem

They tell me they haven't done this on a defender before but on other vehicles can take upwards of 8 hours??? So i want to know if anyone knows if this is a common issue with the defenders? Also, how long should it take to pull the dash apart to get to the condenser and put it all back together? Seems like the cost is going to be in the labor not the parts.

Any info would be handy. Thanks.

[jackdef90]

yeah this a common fault if you do a search its happened to heaps of people, Ive managed to stop it from happening on my 2010 tdci by making sure while the AC is running the cooling knob is not all the way to cold. plus I dont really use it that much as Ive always got the window down with my arm out, cause It wont fit in otherwise
8 hours for dash out surely a LR specialist has taken one out before and should be able to do it quicker.

[jackdef90]

also I would assume that the sensor would be on the evaporator outlet, so it can act on the TX valve and adjust the amount of ref gas being let in to evaporate.
If it was on the condensor it would be very easy to get to as its near the radiator.

[Dslape]

yeah this a common fault if you do a search its happened to heaps of people, Ive managed to stop it from happening on my 2010 tdci by making sure while the AC is running the cooling knob is not all the way to cold. plus I dont really use it that much as Ive always got the window down with my arm out, cause It wont fit in otherwise
8 hours for dash out surely a LR specialist has taken one out before and should be able to do it quicker.

Thanks for this. Ill keep that in mind about the cooling knob. Bit hard not to use the AC, I live in the NT! I think the 8 hours was worse case scenario, the chap said it takes that long for Rangers / Colorados but doesn't think it'll be that long as the defender dash is "more basic" haha

[Blknight.aus]

most likely...

the TX control sensor has moved to far away from the evaporator and is not sensing enough cold, so it opens up the flow rate which makes the evaporator colder. this condenses then almost immediately freezes the humidity out of the air. Once the evaporator starts to freeze up the flow rate across it drops off so there is more time to freeze the moisture out of the air AND the exposed fins of the evaporator get colder...

Eventually you wind up with an ineffective evaporator because its coated in ice.

Bet the problems gotten worse just recently with the rising humidity.

the fix is easy, but its about 4 hours to get to it and about 4 more to put everything back.

as mentioned the easy fix is to turn the temperature down before it freezes up. the bandaid solution is to set your highest fan speed and turn the AC to full external flow with no cooling.

[ATH]

My 2010 110 has more aircon probs. Had replacement (Triumph Rover Spares) compressor fitted 3 months ago but the damn thing is blowing warm air again. Doesn't blow any cold at all.
Looks like I'll have to see the stealer soon as no one seems to have any experience with Deafeners and I'm not using a mobile after the last bloke ballsed things up.
AlanH.

PS. Things are looking up though.....Cook is asking what I'll replace this damn thing with after Xmas.

[deesse]

I've suggested/asked before if anybody has got up under the dash & knowing where to cut, removed a section of the evaporator housing, replaced this ####ing thing that we ALL have had to replace at some time, then just glue the piece back in, only to be seen again after 10k km. when it ALL has to be done again. Surely somebody has a dash out of a wreck that can be experimented on.
P.S. Cook's got the same question. & so do I !!