Hey guys!

Another problem this week with my LR2 2010 HSE

Friday afternoon when i got in my car at work the A/C stopped working and was blowing nothing but hot air.

With my eye test the compressor is spinning a little bit. I checked the AC fuse under the hood and it was fine. even switched it with another one just to be safe.

When I hooked up an ac recharge can with the gauge, it would read in the RED like it was over pressure when the car was off and the same while running. (From the low pressure valve)

I took it to a local decent shop down the road and was quoted $1700 for a new compressor, Condenser and Expansion valve.

The problem is the vehicle is black with black interior and i live near Miami. Which it has been about 100 every day for the past month and need it fixed ASAP..

Anyone have any tips on this before i have to fork over almost 2k?

Thanks

 

Get a second quote.

 

Aside from getting a second opinion...

If you had lost the refrigerant that would likely just be a seal that gave up the ghost. I fixed that on a Suburban once by replacing all o-rings with double new rings on each connection, but if the pressure on the low side is on the red line, that indicates a major failure in the system, and most likely in the compressor. When the compressor fails it tends to contaminate the rest of the system with bits from whatever failed in the compressor, which is why it is considered normal to replace the compressor, condenser and expansion valve as one unit. Not doing so would likely mean you go back to the shop sooner than later with yet another catastrophic failure. You may be able to save some money by buying the parts yourself, or buying them used from a salvage yard through services like car-parts.com but quite honestly, considering where you live, I would not skimp and would use new parts. They don't need to be Land Rover-branded parts, just make sure they come from a reputable manufacturer with a warranty. The shop will not warrant anything on the parts if you buy them yourself, but make sure they give you a warranty on the labor. Also, call them first before you bring your own parts to ask them what part of the quote is labor charges, otherwise they may want to up that on you just for the heck of it to make up lost profit on the parts. Personally, I do not tolerate that and is grounds to blacklist the shop.

 

You need to buy a gauge set that measures the high side and the low side pressure.

If you compressor isn't working then the high side and low side will both be at the same pressure.

About 70 PSI for a fully charged system is perfectly normal.

Note: when the compressor is running then the low side will be closer to 35 PSI.


With the engine at idle turn off the AC inside the vehicle (you can press the button labeled ECON to turn off the AC or press it twice to turn off the the AC and fan)

Then look at the AC compressor the center of the pulley should be stationary with the engine at idle.

Press the Auto button and check again, the center of the pulley should be spinning.


Is you compressor actually engaging the pulley?