XJ Aircon not working

**Biggles** · 2009/07/20, 12:43 PM

Well I discovered after getting the Jeep back from the shop that the aircon wasn't working. The work they did went no where near the aircon and my wife cannot remeber using the aircon for several months, so i doubt it is the shops fault.

I had a look underneath for obvious problems and all seems fine there. There is no engine response when you turn the aircon on so it sounds like the aircon clutch is not engaging. It has been blowing strong before that so not a slow coolant leak.

Any ideas or recomendtions?

**HennieZJ** · 2009/07/20, 03:08 PM

Biggles, the clutch on the aircon pump will not engage and if you have a seperate fan for your aircon radiator, the fan will not switch on if the pressure of the gas in your system is too low. I had mine topped up here alongside Old Paarl Road, just opposite the Shell garage. Cost me something in the region of R100-00 and everything was sorted out.

**Biggles** · 2009/07/20, 08:17 PM

Thanks hennie. Any idea if it throws a code for low gas pressure?

**HennieZJ** · 2009/07/20, 08:27 PM

Biggles, no code came up on the display, but I could feel it was not cooling the interior as it used to. I then checked if the aircon clutch kicked in and had no response. I had a viscus fan, so no seperate fan for the aircon. So, then went up Old Paarl Road to have the gas topped up.
No problems again.

**Biggles** · 2009/07/20, 08:49 PM

Cool place in Old Paarl road is over the wall from SWAMBOS folks place. She has instructions... fingers crossed that its just a slow leak.

**gorman** · 2009/07/20, 09:57 PM

Biggles, I had the same on my Jeep...in fact, my aircon is still not working. Also noticed one day it's not cooling so I had the gas re-filled. It worked fine afterwards, but it lasted about a week. I took it back and seeing that they had dye in the gas they could see under an ultra violet light where it was leaking. It was the evaporator unit underneath the dash...the whole dash needs to come out to get to it, hence why my aircon is still not working

**Biggles** · 2009/07/21, 10:03 AM

Hopefully thats not the case... there has to be a leak though at least.

**JEEP XJ** · 2009/07/21, 11:18 AM

Hi Biggles,Had the same problem, currently actually, is in at the Aircon guys today, used the dye and there is a small leak on the high pressure pipe fitting (1 at the pump fixed and one on the right hand side on top side close to the radiator. Told me it should be finished by 3h00.

**Biggles** · 2009/07/21, 11:30 AM

Plan is to do the roadside regas, if it hold good, otherwise i will go the whole hog and get the dye thing done.

**HennieZJ** · 2009/07/21, 02:34 PM

Biggles, check the aircon hose couplings after a day or two after re-gas. Normally your aircon system should have the greenish liquid allready inside the system. You will clearly see the green liquid oozing out of the leaking pipe / coupling or to make sure, wipe the bottom of each coupling with your nose picking finger to see if there is any fluid comming out.

**Biggles** · 2009/07/21, 04:41 PM

I am doing this by remote control I am in the desert, getting the missus to do the regas is pushing it, cannot expect her to start poking around at piping

**HennieZJ** · 2009/07/21, 07:58 PM

OOooooooooooops Biggles, did'nt realise that you are back in Mauritania. Try the regas option first. It's fairly missus friendly. PM me if I can assist you in any way. I stay a stone's throw from the Shell garage on Old Paarl Road.

**Biggles** · 2009/07/25, 09:51 PM

OK, regassed and working

SWAMBO not happy as she has to drive around with the aircon on in winter to see if it stays working... evil grin

**HennieZJ** · 2009/07/26, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Biggles

OK, regassed and working

SWAMBO not happy as she has to drive around with the aircon on in winter to see if it stays working... evil grin

That is some good news for a change!! Just let the missus check for any greenish liquid drippings on the garage floor if she takes the XJ out of the garage. If not, I would say that the problem might be something of the past (and for about 250 bucks?).

**Biggles** · 2009/07/26, 04:47 PM

Hopefully, if it stays working i will have to assume they somehow degassed the aircon when they did the clutch...

**HennieZJ** · 2009/07/26, 05:12 PM

The gas filling connector to your aircon line has a normal tyre / tube valve to keep the gas in (sometimes two). In a few cases that I know of these valves starts to leak (like a normal tyre / tube would) and that will drop the pressure in your aircon system too. If you're back from Far-far-awayland you can check that easily. Just smear a bit of spit over the valve and check if it makes a bubble. If it does you will have to replace the valve and refill the gas in your aircon system......again. Cost around three bucks and the cost of refilling. (And who said maintenace on Jeeps are always expensive!).