[TheOtherLeft]

Before driving a big mud hole up at the Watagans I forgot to turn off my air-con. Now it doesn't work.

I've checked (continuity and 12V) the fuses, relays and cooling fan.

I think the compressor still works because when I turn the A/C on the RPM rises by a few hundred and then falls back to normal (I figure the engine is just compensating for the increased load)

With the A/C on there is no temp difference between the inlet and outlet pipes to the compressor. Also the cooling fan doesn't turn on like it's meant to.

I have a feeling the cooling fan has pushed into the condensor thereby leaking out my gas.

Does the system check if there is any gas and therefore doesn't run any of the A/C system? Otherwise why doesn't the cooling fan run? I thought if it was a 'dumb' system then the cooling fan would run based on the outside temp or load on the A/C.

Are there any connectors which may have gotten mud in it stopping the A/C from working?

Is there any way of checking the amount of gas left? I checked the sight glass but it's clear either with the A/C on or off. So this means it's either full or empty.

[royce]

easy way to check the compressor is look at the front of it with the engine running, if the front of the pulley is sitting still its not engaging, if its spinning its engaged

if its not spinning check there is power to the clutch on the compressor

I think there may be a fault between whatever controls the ac and the compresser, sounds like the ECU knows the ac is turned on (rev increase)

if there is no gas some wont start up some will, if you think its leaked you will see the oil spray at the leak point or try pushing on one of the fill valves, if you get some gas out you know its not a massive hole and all leaked out

[rodw]

Ben

When My air con went, after some wet, muddy work, it was the fan that was stuffed. Cost me $220 for a new fan and got it regassed and new rec-drier while I was at it, so it was around $500 all up to fix. I still had air con at highway speeds, but got hot quick when slow or idling. My motor also revved up when the fan tried to turn on.

Just make sure if it is the fan that you get one with a guard on it as I am up for another one again now as it is mising a few blades. not sure if was a stick off road or the taxi that ran into me With an out of balance fan, a fuse in one of the relays under the hood blew leaving me with no air con at all.

By your description, if it is not a fuse or relay, it seems more than the fan.. clutch or compressor maybe? Also check the wire connectors to the fan wiring harness.

[magnat]

My Aircon just doesnt get cool..
There seems to be Gas, and the relay's click but I don't have an additional fan... just the one thats attached to the motor??

Mine also stopped working after a bit of Mud work... ( Well water went down over the bonnet and out the Heater pipe)

[rodw]

There is another electric fan in front of the radiator. If it is not working the A/C does not work at idle/low range but is usually ok at highway speed. I found out mine had died after a long time on Fairfield Rd in a traffic jam.

[royce]

mine also has no eletric fan but seems to work fine all the time bar the hotest of days (more to do with the amount of sun that comes in through the massive windows)

the condensor could be blocked with mud too so the gas cant cool

[rodw]

Good point Royce. Lets get the terminology right. the condensor (hot bit) is in front of the radiator and has an electric fan to help it cool down at low driving speeds, the evaporator (cold bit) is under the dash. They are both constructed much like a car radiator.

Now I had the inside all apart the other day because the drainhole needed repairing and the A/c fan inside the vehicle is quite separate from the evaporator and forces air through the evaporator on the way to the vents. The evaporator was really dirty almost clogged but the A/C got a clean bill of health a month or so earlier by an A/c guy who told me the outlet temp at the vents was 8 degrees C and he was very happy about that! I can't see that water or mud down into the interior fan would get across and clog the evaporator.

So if you don't have a fan in front of the condensor, somebody has stuffed it and pullled it right off, so you'll be up for $220 or so for a new fan. If you have air coming out of the vents, the evaporator is not clogged. But if the mud also filled up the condensor (and maybe the radiator) the system won't cool. Check the front behind the grill and if it is blocked, clean it out with a Gerni or at a car wash.

Failing that, if you have gas, probably the most likely cause is the receiver drier (the tank on the RHS (on mine) of the radiator the A/c pipes pass through). If this blocks up, the A/c won't cool. I have that happen on another car in the past. You have to take it to an A/C shop and have the receiver drier replaced and regassed. The receiver drier is a service item about every 5 yrs and it'll cost you probably $300 or so to fix the problem.

Hope this helps Magnat, if not find an A/c shop....

[magnat]

A/C shops just down the road.. will let them diagnose the problem...

[royce]

I dont think a condenser fan was fitted with all AC kits in aust, depending on genuine or not and so on, like I said mine doesnt have one (did once though) and makes no difference I dont think

magnat if you have genuine AC the compressor is likely stuffed, the bearing flog and kill the seals and leak the gas, not a hard fix for a competent shop