Disco 2 Air con compressor fault

Hi all,

Looking for a bit of advice please.

My Disco 2 TD5 (1998) has basic air con that just works on the heater switches, not a control temp panel.

It’s never worked since I had the car.

Today I had it pressure checked and re-gassed which all wentwell. But when we started it up and put the blowers on, there was no air con and the compressor didn't kick in at all (even although the belts turn it fine).

The garage said it was an electrical fault most likely as they said the compressors on D2's rarely go wrong.

I checked the fuses in the fuse box, and under the drivers footwell and they were all ok.

Is there anything else I can try before spending out for an electrical diagnostic next week, a fuse I may have missed ect, only to find it was something simple (as I am a fairly new D2 owner).

Any advice would be sincerely appreciated,

kind regards,

Greg

Inkjets1 said:

My Disco 2 TD5 (1998) has basic air con that just works on the heater switches, not a control temp panel.
It’s never worked since I had the car.

Click to expand...

Hi, the problem is that it seems that the aircon on your's is retrofitted cos there is no such thing from factory to have aircon with non-aircon controls which are for heating and ventilation only, those with aircon from factory mut have the electronic control so you should find a retrofitted switch which sould activate the compresor clutch

Hi serrafrey,
Thanks for your reply..
I probaĺly didn't make it very clear.
There are buttons for air con and air recycle on the heater panel. They both work and they light up with a orange light when selected.
They are both normal landrover switches / buttons.
Hope that may give you any other ideas.
I'm beginning to think I will probaĺly end up with a electrical diagnostic test done but I bet it's something stupid like a loose wire or relay somewhere.
Many thanks tho,
Geeg

Unfortunately that kind of system is not described in any official document nor diagrams available so presuming it has the same circuit like those with digital control remove relay R11 and make a bridge in the fusebox with a wire where terminals 30 - 87 of the relay were(they are noted on the relay) ... then the compressor clutch should engage if that circuit is good .... according to the result we'll speak again

Fab, Thank you. That will give me a start to look at Friday. I'll let you know how it goes.
Many thanks again,
Greg

Being a 1999MY disco u have the same AC system controls as the D1, therefore press the master switch on, it should illuminate, select the heater fan speed and turn both of the temperature controls to your desired temp. For maximum cooling press the air recycling button, you only want to cool the air inside the vehicle, and turn the temp controls to blue.

If the AC still doesn’t work then check when switched on for 12v at the compressor, it’s not unknown for the compressor clutch to be faulty.

Thanks Driscoll,
Year, that sounds the same system as mine.
If the clutch is faulty, can they be freed up or is it usually a replacement or second hand compressor needed. Cheers, greg

discool said:

Being a 1999MY disco u have the same AC system controls as the D1,....

Click to expand...

in which document is described that D2 system then? ... my cousin has first generation XA... ('99) D2 and the aircon is as described in RAVE with electronic control, all the erly modells which i've seen with the same comntrols like the D1 were without aircon ... that D1 setup as you say(which i dont doubt it can be real) is not described in any D2 workshop manual, nor diagrams available cos the D1 diagrams are certainly not valid for the D2's setup and even though the controls are the same the circuit must be different

ok chaps, sorry for the delay in writing back.
So, everything appears to be order (except it still doesn't work).
If I bridge the contacts where the relay sits, and turn on the air con, everything works fine. Cold air etc. There is power and earth at the relay circuit plug and the relay is working (tried a brand new one and still wont switch on the air con when plugged in).
Clutch all works fine on the compressor and when you connect the two contacts where the relay fits in, it all kicks in fine.
I have read somewhere about a ECU under the passenger footwell?? Had a look and can see 2 of them sitting there.
Is it worth changing these? o
Or, as a easy option, would it cause any problems just to leave the contacts in the relay connections connected up with a wire and spades?
Thanks, Greg

You must have some pressure switch maybe 2 in your system. I would go there first.

I had exactly the same as you on a 96 RR. Where I could pull the clutch in and all was cold but wouldn’t click in cos of a faulty switch.

J

Cheers Marjon,

I'll google them to try and locate them. Really frustrating, its like being able to see the end line but you just cant reach it lol...

Mine were down near at the dryer. Up front down low next to all the radiators.
Yours I don’t know.

J

Yea, I cant see anything there. There is a connecter on the dryer its self. I've tried putting new spades on and cleaning the connections and even linking the connections to see if that did anything, but knout
I think its going to have to go to the money man in the sky and get them to fix it because I've totally run out of ideas now and checked everything I can find, see or clean.
Mind you, until then, it will have to be windows opened until I can save the pennys lol... hey how but thanks for your help.

Stick with it.
Pics of what you have may help those in the know

I can’t remember how I pinned mine down (was a long time ago).
While you save your pennies keep looking for a fix yourself.
Some switches are N/O or N/C so just linking the connection may just give the wrong signal. If that makes sense
You need to try and work out what you actually have first then you stand a chance of the gurus helping you here.

I just know that of the 2 issues with AC (2 range rovers) both diagnosed as compressor, turned out to be a simple switch/valve.

J

I will definitely stick with it mate, its got personal now lol...
I must be so close because everything works fine when you bridge the relay plugs, so it must be something connected to the relay that's blocking the signal. I think I may get a cheep multi metre to help, rather than just pulling things out and cleaning them.
Your right about pictures though... I've been trying to get some on google images, but they are so few and far between, often ending up with random pics of D2's for sale or even more insultingly, brand new ones
I wont be beat, never a quitter. All a bit new to this D2 love thing... only had her about 2-3 months and most part of that she was in the garage having a replacement gear box fitted.... still, on a +ive, I have got a lot of gremlins out the system and things working right, even cleared the mice out from when it was stood in a farmers field for ages lol...
cheers for your help, gregs

ah, pics of ,mine.... just re-read your msg.. I'll get some posted...

A DMM (or any multimeter) is a must in any LR toolbox, right next to the hammer

J

Do you have RAVE? That has all the circuit diagrams you need. I see after a brief look that the A/C clutch relay is switched by an earth from the ECM on a black / silver wire through connector CO577-2. According to the relevant page in RAVE, "Operation of the clutch is controlled by the Engine Control Module (ECM)." So it sounds as though you're either not getting a signal from there or there's a break in the wiring somewhere. As J says, a multimeter is really essential equipment and you can get a perfectly serviceable one for under a tenner.

yea, cheers iansoady. I have only just got a copy of the RAVE book. Ive seen it mentioned lots on here but had no success in tracking a copy down or any results from Google... just RAVE's to go and get drunk at lol..
But, the other night whilst searching on a Ausy Land Rover site there was a link to RAVE, so I now have my own copy on the PC... much more detailed than Haynes by far.
Been looking at the AC layout although I'm no electrician. But I'm sure I can try and locate that earth you mentioned. It does sound like a promising lead. Pay day tomorrow so will hopefully get a cheep metre as well.

Ill let you know how it goes. Thanks all for the clues.... fingers crossed....
On a funnier side, after trying to find the wires to behind the front grill the other day, I must have cleaned something because now my headlight washers are working... I thought they had died and were completely disconnected and cut off... funny old world

Hi all,
May I come in on this thread? My aircon is not working either! I have a disco 2 td5 with the climate control the unit that allows different temperature settings for driver and passenger. Now the compressor does not come on! I can "force" it on using my Lynx and then the centre of the pulley ie the compressor shaft is seen to rotate but it only runs for about 40seconds before the ECU forces the clutch off. Is it possible that the system needs a recharge, that somewhere there's a pressure switch that without a pressure is cutting off the compressor?
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Best wishes,
Gordon