L322 Faulty Air-con

Range Rover L332 2007 3.6 V8 Diesel

Hello everyone,

Hope all is well through these COVID times!

I have just bought a 2007 RR Vogue and noticed the Air conditioning no matter what setting doesn't release cold air but the fans are all working fine.

I took it to Kwik Fit who re-charged it for an hr but then it still didn't release cold air after 5 mins so they discharged the gas and I wasn't charged. They never mentioned any leaks and said even the pipes are not cold when they would be but seems like they are not experts.

Took it to another garage and they tried to re-gas it but said it wasn't taking any pressure? but didn't mention any leaks either and any advice.

I've been told you need to know what you are actually doing when it comes to Re-charging a RR Air-Con ....also I have been told once you charge it you need to leave the air-con running for at least 10mins to make it work?

I have bought a new compressor because I have been advised this is most probably the fault?

In my experience with AC which is small.
Firstly they all seem to blame it on the compressor. My last to dealings (different RR) both were diagnosed as compressor and neither was. I diagnosed them by checking stuff and came out as cheap fixes.
So from what you have said I would have to say neither place could tell you if you had a leak even to me that’s AC basics (don’t go to them again) Go somewhere that knows as they will leak test it first. It’s not easy to diagnose as it’s not a friendly thing to deal with but I would rather know I had gas in the system, then some good diagnostics would tell you what’s wrong.
For better help here you need to have asked the people more questions to bring a bit more info here.
It sounds like you are not very hands on? So watch out it could get expensive, oh it already did you brought a compressor
Do you have any diagnostics of your own as some are very good and will help mine did.
Good luck.

J

Kwik fit don't have a clue. All they do is a gas change service with an automatic servicing machine that cannot diagnose anything, operated by a semiskilled fitter who has spent half an hour learning which buttons to press. If you can find someone who knows what he is doing with a gauge set which can actually be used to diagnose problems. That will narrow the problem down or pin point it rather than Kwik Fit throwing expensive bits at it until it works.

To Marjon,

Thank you for the reply and I'm not very hands-on with RR so self-diagnostics are minimal at my end all I know is the pipes should be ice cold after re-gassing the air-con and was told they were not, the fans are blowing fine but warm air and seems all the controls are working fine.

The compressor was quite cheap and having a friend fit it then will try and see if I can recharge it today or within the week, I am looking at mobile Air-con specialist who seems to have great reviews and more knowledge than Kwik Fit.

What self-diagnostics did you do and what were the cheap outcomes?

Will let you know the outcome ASAP and thank you for your time.

wammers said:

Kwik fit don't have a clue. All they do is a gas change service with an automatic servicing machine that cannot diagnose anything, operated by a semiskilled fitter who has spent half an hour learning which buttons to press. If you can find someone who knows what he is doing with a gauge set which can actually be used to diagnose problems. That will narrow the problem down or pin point it rather than Kwik Fit throwing expensive bits at it until it works.

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Hello Wammers, and thank you for your replay I guessed after visiting two garages and seemed had to two different outcomes but I'm sure like you said they have no indepth knowledge of RR air-con.

Kind regards.

Ok good luck with the mobile guy he should know more than qfit

1 of my failures was a tristate(3 way switch) which senses no gas (p38)
The other was on the L322 and was an expansion valve(low pressure valve). I could prove the compressor with my Gap(diagnostics)

The controls in the cabin worked in both case blowing warm air so is no guide of use.

J

marjon said:

Ok good luck with the mobile guy he should know more than qfit

1 of my failures was a tristate(3 way switch) which senses no gas (p38)
The other was on the L322 and was an expansion valve(low pressure valve). I could prove the compressor with my Gap(diagnostics)

The controls in the cabin worked in both case blowing warm air so is no guide of use.

J

Click to expand...

Sometimes giving the expansion valve a tap sorts them out.

wammers said:

Sometimes giving the expansion valve a tap sorts them out.

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Yep for about Half an hour in our case or until the next startup.

J

marjon said:

Yep for about Half an hour in our case or until the next startup.

J

Click to expand...

Must have so crap in there then. It either sorts them or it doesn't.

I thought the re gas machine did a leak test first?
The one my local indi has does a vacuum test which to me seems daft on a pressurised system.

Don't forget my schoolboy error of not turning the dial to cold on the centre vent

wammers said:

Must have so crap in there then. It either sorts them or it doesn't.

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We didn’t get lucky, don’t care now though been good for 2 summers now.

backinblack said:

I thought the re gas machine did a leak test first?
The one my local indi has does a vacuum test which to me seems daft on a pressurised system.

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Ah that center dial forgot about that

I think the vac is as much to get moist air out too, yes and last time we had ours done the vac test was printed out as proof it was good.

J

I think it has to hold the vacuum for 10 mins or so, but that will pull the joints together and seal them, then when you pressurise it pushes them apart

Vac test can be misleading as it could seal itself, a test using nitrogen as pressure is better, that is what my friendly fridge engineer does, vac down, pressure test ,vac down, refill.

brianp38dse said:

Vac test can be misleading as it could seal itself, a test using nitrogen as pressure is better, that is what my friendly fridge engineer does, vac down, pressure test ,vac down, refill.

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Vac test is usually sufficient.

wammers said:

Vac test is usually sufficient.

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On most occasions yes but mine was vac tested twice, refilled twice, then I found a tiny hole where 2 pipes were rubbing against each other so assume the vac test was sucking it closed.
Of course diags will give you gas pressure and say if compressor clutch is engaged.

backinblack said:

I thought the re gas machine did a leak test first?
The one my local indi has does a vacuum test which to me seems daft on a pressurised system.

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You can by pass the leak test and vac test if you know which buttons to press.

Our d3 recently passed both machine working correctly regassed it a month later were low on gas. I have found a leak in the condenser so iv finally got something todo on 1 of my landy products

biketeacherdave said:

You can by pass the leak test and vac test if you know which buttons to press.

Our d3 recently passed both machine working correctly regassed it a month later were low on gas. I have found a leak in the condenser so iv finally got something todo on 1 of my landy products

Click to expand...

Mine isn't as cold as it should be but still showing pressure and clutch activation, maybe time for a top up and see.

backinblack said:

Mine isn't as cold as it should be but still showing pressure and clutch activation, maybe time for a top up and see.

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It only needs 17 PSI for compressor to run better running at around 25 PSI low side. Don't over fill though.

I might nip to Kwik fit, I know they are crap for diagnosing but ok for a simple regas