Done All The Aircon Tests, but..........

Good morning lads and lasses

I have had no aircon since I bought the FL, but put fixing it on the back burner until now. I have read through the various threads, looked on various generic aircon sites, but still have no definitive answer.

The clutch on the compressor isn't engaging. Now, should it engage, regardless of gas level, when the aircon is switched on, or is its operation dependent upon the gas level / pressure? I don't want to fork out £3-400 for a new compressor when I just need to regas it properly. (Did the Halfrauds regas, and yes, the gas pressure was low, but it made little, if any, difference on top up.) And I would rather do a regas first, even if it only tells me that a compressor is needed.

Any advice appreciated.


It's a TD4.

low gas pressure

Hi Robin

Low gas pressure will stop engaging? If that's the case then a proper regas will be the order of the day.

i would say so plus they use dyes in regass system now to show up any leaks , i would do that first thats only my opion mind could be something unrelated

Well at least I'll get a definite answer too, if I regas it.

Cheers Robin

If you take it to a tyre fitter they will re-gas it for £40 to £50. They will tell you what the pressure is when they start. They will use a machine like r2d2 on wheels. It will empty, clean out and re-gas the system. If it doesn't work afterwards some don't charge, or do it for a reduced cost. They will get the machine to put the correct amount of oil stuff in too.

Those are the prices I'm getting too Hippo. I'm hoping it is a simple case of regas, and it'll all work as it should. I don't really want to fork out for a new compressor

Assume you checked the feed fuse for the compressor ? If not, then yes, low/no gas pressure will not allow your compressor to run.

englishbullterrier said:

Assume you checked the feed fuse for the compressor ? If not, then yes, low/no gas pressure will not allow your compressor to run.

Click to expand...

Hi EBT

yes, that was the first thing I checked, then the compressor clutch for movement / freeplay too, just in case.

I think the reason they stop the compressor from running with low/no pressure is that the refridgerant also carries the oil that lubricates the inside of the compressor :doh:

usually the first thing to go is the 2 rubber washers where it fits onto the little block on the bulkhead.

Hi or one of the pipes corrodes around the p clip - there's a bulletin on it I think

All great advice guys, especially about the compressor lubricant. Thanks