Hi Guys, I need help. My 2006 LR3 A/C now blows hot air. Initially the air will be cool while in motion, but gets warm when rolling in slow traffic or at stationary. I have changed out the evaporators (Front & back) as well as the front expansion valve yet the problem persists. The compressor turns when the engine is on and the gas in the system has not leaked out. Any idea what the problem could be?

 

How do you know if anything has leaked out? Did you do any testing with a guage and a qualified ac technician? AC systems aren't different from each other. What kind of pressures do you have? How cold does it get?

 

Sounds like you're low on refrigerant. I had a new compressor put on my jeep after the clutch went out and the air was ice cold. a few years later, the air was barely cool and there were no leaks, system looked good, everything was clean. I was certain it was NOT the refrigerant. Finally, I read up online and made a trip to advanced auto parts. checked it with a gauge, it was low, put an entire bottle of r134a into it; ice cold again.

Go to advanced auto parts or auto zone. buy this for $23:
Buy Interdynamics Heavy-Duty R-134a Charging Hose with Extra-Long Hose and 90" Push-and-Lock Coupler GBM-4 at Advance Auto Parts

It has instructions on the back on how to use. You can use it as a guage to check your system pressure. If low, buy a can of R134a and follow the directions for filling the system ($15).

Buy Advance Auto Parts 12 oz. Can R-134a Refrigerant A1300 at Advance Auto Parts

As you follow the A/C lines back to the firewall (front of vehicle to back), the connections are in this order; low pressure servicing connection, refrigerant pressure sensor, high pressure servicing connection. (you'll need to know which is which when refilling).

For $23, you can find out if you're low or not (otherwise you just don't know what's going on), and for another $14 you can fix it. not hard at all.

 

Here's some specs from the workshop manual

Item Specification

Compressor oil Denso ND-8 PAG oil
Total system capacity:
Front 130 cm³ (4.5 fluid ounces)
Rear 179 cm³ (5.9 fluid ounces)
Additional amount of oil to be added to system if a component is replaced:
Condenser 40 cm³ (1.4 fluid ounces)
Evaporator - Front or rear 40 cm³ (1.4 fluid ounces)

Pipe or hose 10 cm³ (0.35 fluid ounces)

Item Specification

Refrigerant type R134A
Total system capacity:
2.7 litre - Front system only fitted 550 grammes (10.25 ounces)
2.7 litre - Front and rear systems fitted 810 grammes (28.35 ounces)
4.0 and 4.4 litre - Front system only fitted 600 grammes (21.16 ounces)

4.0 and 4.4 litre - Front and rear systems fitted 900 grammes (31.83 ounces)

Item Description

Compressor:
Make Denso
Type 7SEU17
Sensor locations:
Ambient temperature sensor At the front of the vehicle
Smog sensor At the front of the vehicle adjacent to the ambient temperature sensor
ICS/humidity sensor On the instrument panel adjacent to the steering column
Solar sensor On the vehicle centre line on top of the instrument panel

Pressure transducer In A/C line - LH side of engine compartment

 

Thanks a lot Ghengis86! I took the car to a professional and he checked the contents of the gas - R134a - 34%; R12 - 8%; R22 - 58%. The system was vaccum flushed and filled with R134a. Cools like ice now! I'm so happy. Was very close to replacing my compressor.

 

How did you go about getting to the expansion valve?