So my thought is the something as simple as this could be disconnected. In the mean time, I am digging up more info from the manuals for you.

 

EDIT: Ignore this, I should have read it first. Pretty useless but I will leave it up.

Recovery and charging info...

 

Thanks, I appreciate all the help I can get. I'll have to check the connections tomorrow at the shop. But since this has a rear system. I believe both systems have evaporators and expansion valves. Could those be the culprit for a clog?

 

Unfortunately that is all I have. I have diagrams and the works, but nothing on actual compressor operation (how it actually works) and what pressure readings it should have. I have a specification section for AC but it only list capacities and types. I would start simple, go from there. But how it looks to me is that the compressor is not engaging for some reason. And there can be many reasons really, from faulty HVAC controls to bad pressure switches.

 

Any update? I have the same issue.

 

The first thing I would suggest to do is apply battery voltage directly to the a/c compressor while the motor is running and the a/c is switched on.

I used jumper cables and bits of old wiring harnesses to connect directly to the compressor.

If you hear the drag on the motor and your air begins to get cold, you have confirmed that mechanically you’re good.

You can also wire a marker lamp or tail lamp up to your old compressor’s wiring pigtail. Connect it to your harness, run the motor, and switch on the a/c. If it lights, you’ve confirmed your wiring and controls are good. If it doesn’t light, you have a wiring or control panel problem. You can’t just use a volt ohm meter here because you need the draw on the circuit from the lamp.

In my case, might light didn’t light. I traced the wires to the climate control panel and confirmed the wires to the panel were good and would carry a load.

Those two wires from the compressor go directly to the control panel. These wires provide a pulse to the compressor’s solenoid valve which controls the variable output from the compressor.

I back-probed the ground wire for this circuit at the panel and manually grounded it directly to metal behind the dash. The a/c started working, confirming that my control panel was bad.

I ordered a new-used one from eBay, and have been good ever since!

Or

You can skip all the diagnostics and go straight to eBay. The panel is an easy swap!

 

I read everyone’s comments. I’m on team “air distribution issue”. These are more likely to go than any of this other stuff. And the fact that multiple shops “misdiagnose” further supports this. Shops hate the stepper motor repair. Have just replaced all of mine, i get this. It’s not hard but a lot of parts need to come off to get to them.

I recorded it all - need to edit it up and get it out at some point.

Get a set of gauges from harbor freight. Do some basic youtube search and read your systems pressures.

If they’re right, (and i suspect they will be ), you have a stepper motor issue in my opinion.

Hey - turn your ac up and touch your low pressure line under your bonnet. Is it chilly? colder than your high pressure line ? This is pretty unscientific but it will suggest the system IS working right , and you have an air distribution issue.

Also- try the hvac reset procedure. Cause why not.

 

Does your LR3 have the 2nd row climate controls?

I know it seems really stupid, but i drove around for about 1.5 months before i figured out what was going on 😬

 

Did this ever get resolved?