Disco 3 (LR3) Air Conditioner on Discovery III TDV6 S 2006

Our wonderful Discovery has taken us across Europe many times, and given us many adventures. This time, we left it behind in France.
A month ago we were running thro Southern France when a friend offered us tickets to the Rugby World Cup. Brilliant! We drove to the game and as we parked, "strange noises" emitted from the engine bay. What is a strange noise? Like the air conditioning flaps working repeatedly; back and for, for around 5 seconds, a 'clunk' and then silence.
Did nothing immediately (the game was starting soon) but when I returned investigated as best I could. Checked fuses, started up and listened - nothing apparent to see of hear, but heading off the air conditioning has stopped providing cool air. Fan works, air flow redirects as selected, just no cooling.
Car runs fine, so we run for a couple of hours of hot & sticky motorway driving. 400 miles later we had to leave our car in Nice, and fly onwards, or the heat would have made our trip a lot longer and a real health problem in that heat.
Now the weather has cooled (and another RWC ticket is offered) I'm flying back in to drive on to Athens (motor insurance renewed).
What to do?
I think that driving is not likely to do further damage. Does anyone think otherwise?
I need to locate the problem, and naturally the compressor is a suspect. Otherwise, perhaps the various flaps have blown a fuse that I couldn't easily check. Perhaps the heat exchanger valve has failed . . .
If I take it to a LD dealer or find an AC engineer in S of France, maybe they can diagnose the problem. But then I'm likely to have to wait for parts.
If I drive on to Athens, same issue, and I'll have to be careful to get back to GB within the insurance period.

Has anyone got any pointers for me to diagnose the problem?
Can I 'assume' that the AC compressor is toast, and order a new one to take with me?

Any pointers, or additional info would be very much appreciated.

Cheers
Paul

BTW:
The car is a Discovery III TDV6 S 2006, so that's a V6 diesel 2720 cc.
The AC had a recharge in 2021, and seemed to be working fine until is was not.

Mine made a load of funny noises, them noises were the ac pump shear plate breaking up as the pump had seized solid.
Take a look down at the engine under tray to see if you can see any bits.
If belt is still tight you should be able to drive it home, as the shear plate is designed to fail in the event of pump failure.
I drive mine for weeks with broken shear playe.
Be aware ac pump replacement is a total arse of a job!

lynall said:

Mine made a load of funny noises, them noises were the ac pump shear plate breaking up as the pump had seized solid.
Take a look down at the engine under tray to see if you can see any bits.
If belt is still tight you should be able to drive it home, as the shear plate is designed to fail in the event of pump failure.
I drive mine for weeks with broken shear playe.
Be aware ac pump replacement is a total arse of a job!

Click to expand...

Thanks Lynall. Wonder what makes the pump seize? Going from all systems go to nada in seconds. I'll have another look at that belt to look for damage, but I realise the whole area is a bugger for big hands, five thumbs like mine. I'll try to find an AC mechanic in Nice.

If I may plse add check the condenser as this is also a common failure point, had to replace mine last year ,

made up a test kit after finding the leak using soapy water along with a UV torch , wasn’t to bad of a job, bought a nissens condenser as it also came tint he dryer, did also get all new stainless steel bolts and nitrate O rings

hope it’s also useful to u

lynall said:

Mine made a load of funny noises, them noises were the ac pump shear plate breaking up as the pump had seized solid.
Take a look down at the engine under tray to see if you can see any bits.
If belt is still tight you should be able to drive it home, as the shear plate is designed to fail in the event of pump failure.
I drive mine for weeks with broken shear playe.
Be aware ac pump replacement is a total arse of a job!

Click to expand...

hi mate

did u also replace ur condenser plse as it seems it’s quite common for them to fail around the same area

gstuart said:

hi mate

did u also replace ur condenser plse as it seems it’s quite common for them to fail around the same area

Click to expand...

Nope just the pump, no system flush/clean/dryer, just new pump/regas and away she went.

Objective said:

Thanks Lynall. Wonder what makes the pump seize? Going from all systems go to nada in seconds. I'll have another look at that belt to look for damage, but I realise the whole area is a bugger for big hands, five thumbs like mine. I'll try to find an AC mechanic in Nice.

Click to expand...

They wont like you if they have done one before, access is severely limited, as it is tucked behind the nsf shock tower, so it has to come out the front.
Mine has the rear a/c and in my 9 yrs of ownership I have had to replace two sections of the rear pipework due to leaks, so I just assumed she had ran out of a/c gas/oil once to often and called it a day once and for all.

lynall said:

Nope just the pump, no system flush/clean/dryer, just new pump/regas and away she went.

Click to expand...

many thks , mine has Started to very slowly loose its charge so wondering if it’s the ac pump, wont bother until next year seeing mines going in for its mot and brakes on the 13th Oct,

gstuart said:

many thks , mine has Started to very slowly loose its charge so wondering if it’s the ac pump, wont bother until next year seeing mines going in for its mot and brakes on the 13th Oct,

Click to expand...

Doubt its pump causing gas loss

Crikey, great idea looking at the condenser . . . if that's the problem . . . result ! Just the 'hope' feels good if the alternative is I spend 3 days removing the lower LHS to get at the compressor!
Great photo gst ! Many thanks.