Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830
Air Con - Cold???
I've figured for some time that my air-con requires regassing.
However, during a service Stratstones measured the cold temp as 5 degrees C.
Realising that temp reading seems pretty cool I thought maybe I'm doing something wrong but can't decide what.
I've read the manual regarding the settings but it's as clear as mud.
Could somebody please explain, in everyday, easy to understand terms, what settings I need to select to get the coldest air possible from the vents?
I know it appears like a nube question but I can't seem to duplicate Stratstones results.
Cheers. Mods:
Front Fogs + Halos
FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
Long Roof Rails
Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here.
13th May 2012 10:43 am
Hess
Member Since: 07 Mar 2011
Location: Highlands
Posts: 1533
You're not alone Narpy, I'm the same, no idea if it even works.
So I will be watching with interest for instructions on how to find out.
13th May 2012 10:58 am
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
In order to get the coldest air from the vents, select the coldest temp on the dial, switch system "on" making sure the "econ" button is not illuminated. You will now get 2 orange led lights showing inside the fan speed knob, this is the system in "auto" and will distribute air from all 3 vent sets to cool the car to the selected temp. The fan will then slow down and speed up as necessary to maintain the selected temp.
If you purely want cold air from the dash vents, select the middle button at the left of the panel, they are marked with symbols for windscreen, dash, footwell. One of the orange leds in the fan speed knob goes out, and the system maintains the set temp but only allowing air from the dash vents.
If you turn the fan speed knob, the second led goes out and the system is now completley out of "auto" mode and you control both the fan speed and air output yourself. To get the coldest possible output dont turn the fan speed up too high as the air rushes through without getting a chance to really cool down first.
Hope this helps a bit
13th May 2012 12:37 pm
Narpy
Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830
Thanks for that, I've tried your instructions and as I thought, it needs a re-gas.
Lord knows where Stratstones got 5 degrees from. Mods:
Front Fogs + Halos
FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
Long Roof Rails
Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here.
13th May 2012 6:46 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1923
And if you want it really REALLY cold, select the air circulation button, which recircs the air in the car rather than drawing it from outside.
I had my car re-gassed by an expert mobile chap down in the South. He also disinfected the system and flushed it. Got him from Piston heads, I think. About £120 done at my place.
His top tip for keeping the aircon smelling fresh is to run it every now and then at max temp (hot) for 5 - 10 mins. The heat kills off the bacteria the make the car smell musty when the AC runs cold. It does work.PAGODA
13th May 2012 7:15 pm
Davro
Member Since: 30 Jun 2007
Location: London
Posts: 352
Hi , agree with all the previous comments. About this time of year previously I noticed that the car would not get cool despite the coolent level being ok. Replaced the Pollen filter and it gave an instant improvement.
Also may be worth getting one of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/3-in-1-thermometer-with-clock-34932 and putting the external senor just inside the air vent so you get the reading of the air as it comes into the car. This is probably where the dealer got the 5C measurement from.
Using one of these you should find that the best level for the fan is about 3 or 4 on the dial to get the lowest temperature coming into the car.
13th May 2012 9:22 pm
theanswers
Member Since: 30 Jun 2010
Location: Sligo/ Belfast
Posts: 244
If the air is warm I would recommend a regas. However if you can I would examine the pipes because if there is a leak all the new gas will leak out!
Awful feeling....
7th Jun 2012 1:02 pm
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
Normally if you get a re-gas the system is first emptied and vacumed, pressure tested for leaks, then refilled. The only snag is that a very small leak might not show up on the pressure test, because the machine will only hold the pressure for a set time which may not register a pressure drop, if the leak is very small.
7th Jun 2012 2:45 pm
williamosborne01
Member Since: 08 Jun 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3
B16 KJR wrote:
Normally if you get a re-gas the system is first emptied and vacumed, pressure tested for leaks, then refilled. The only snag is that a very small leak might not show up on the pressure test, because the machine will only hold the pressure for a set time which may not register a pressure drop, if the leak is very small.
great explanation. will check it up also if it has a leak. maybe not.
Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: North East Scotland
Posts: 87
Hi,
There is no difference in temperature if I have the Econ button pressed in or not, and I cannot get the temperature very low. I assume therefore that the air conditioning system needs to be 'serviced'.
Can anyone recommend a firm that can do this in the Montrose - Aberdeen area?
Thanks.
Best regards,
Rob2005 TDV6 base model 7-seater manual
1st Jul 2012 2:08 pm
Mr Kington
Member Since: 12 Dec 2011
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 1549
I re-gassed mine and was told by Formula One autocentre that if the machine found a significant leak it would abort and not re-gas. Apparently no leak was found and the machine went ahead. When stratstones did the belts for me they had an advisory saying the air con was leaking fluid everywhere and it needed a new seal on something. Hence be mindful that the tolerances of these machines clearly isnt that well tuned. Funnily enough if they dont re gas they cant charge you so do wonder how significant the leak has to be ?
1st Jul 2012 2:28 pm
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
Quote:
Hence be mindful that the tolerances of these machines clearly isnt that well tuned. Funnily enough if they dont re gas they cant charge you so do wonder how significant the leak has to be ?
Bear in mind that a small leak can take weeks for the gas to escape, even with the best equipment in the world, a pressure drop that small would not register, even after couple of hours hooked up to the equipment
1st Jul 2012 4:30 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
The other reason for poor performance is when the actuators go out of whack. Try a HEVAC self test as that should reset the actuators.Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
