Range Rover P38 4.6HSE (95) aircon issue

Hi All,

Have limped along for past three years (to save money!) with below average airconditioning on my 1995 Range Rover P38 4.6HSE and now we are approaching summer 2010 think it's time to really get it sorted!

Even when on "Low" setting the aircon effect can only best be desribed as pathetic whilst I have a little book type icon and ! on the display.

From what I know it is an expensive job to fix, or am I wrong and does the system simply need regassing or a whole new aircon unit fitted?

All advice greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

It's probably just the condensor gone, thats the big alloy rad in front of the engine rad, they are prone to leaking. About £70 for a new one and an easy DIY job. Then a VAC test and re-gas about £50. You could obviously just have the VAC test done and if it shows no loss of vacuum, then just get it re-gassed.

Martin1_01 said:

Hi All,

Have limped along for past three years (to save money!) with below average airconditioning on my 1995 Range Rover P38 4.6HSE and now we are approaching summer 2010 think it's time to really get it sorted!

Even when on "Low" setting the aircon effect can only best be desribed as pathetic whilst I have a little book type icon and ! on the display.

From what I know it is an expensive job to fix, or am I wrong and does the system simply need regassing or a whole new aircon unit fitted?

All advice greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Click to expand...

Martin, have a good read here, 4.0/4.6 common problems>Air Con

Index of Range Rover Mechanical Information

Martin1
Can you keep us posted on your progress. My '97 has the same book symbol and little evidence of cooling. I need to work on it before the Summer really kicks in but have next to no experience with air conditioning systems. Any lessons learned are greatly accepted.

How'd he manage to run it at all for three years then, if there was a leak? Bloody slow leak!

Out here we have seriously hot weather and a fair amount of dust. ACs really have to work for their living and we've unfortunately learned a lot about what can go wrong. The condensor can clog with dust and debris. Poor airflow will reduce ac cooling and in bad cases will also lead to the car overheating as not enough air gets to the rad. So its always a good idea to clean with compressed air or a pressure hose, just not too much pressure or you could cause damage. Next is the evaporator inside the cabin, under the dash. This clogs and needs to be cleaned, usually means depressurizing, removal, cleaning, reconnection and re-gassing. If you can clean it in-situ then good for you, you've just saved yourself a lot of work. Next you'd look at the dryer/receiver, might just need cleaning and new dryer granules and lastly the compressor where the clutch or seals can fail. Always a good idea to change compressor oil when regassing for that reason. Of course what I've just said is generic to all AC systems. If you have electronic control then there are temperature sensors and thermostats that may be fouled or may have failed completely and blend doors that may not be opening and closing completely. Its more than likely that's what your book symbol is indicating.

So clean the obvious dust clogging first and then get the HEVAC faults read and you'll know where to go from there.