Looks like I'm having problems my self but I'm thinking leak rather than pressure. That said which fan is for the compressor and where can I find the control box ? Is it the one attached to the larger fan at the top ?

Lastly I see you mention about checking the 'compressor moving'... where is this part ? I'm assuming attached to the cam belt some where ?

TIA

Terran Terran



'The' Car For The Modern Day UK Roads ( ie all the pot holes )

'A Freelander that leaks oil is just marking its territory' - Wise words

Now a member of the FL2 'Silly Bill' Club

As you look into the engine compartment from the front you will see 2 fans behind (engine side) of the radiator - the right hand one is the largest and this is the Engine Cooling Fan, on the left and lower down is the smaller Air Con Condensor fan.
These are both connected by twin cables to the Twin Engine Cooling Fan module which in turn has a set of twin cables + a thin purple wire going off to the wiring loom.

On one very hot. humid day last summer (yes there was one) our Air Con compressor seized and the drive belt got very very hot and snapped with smoke and fumes! The compressor is (looking again into the engine compartment from the front) situated lower left of the engine block - looks a bit like a dynamo - and is driven by the drive belt that drives the water pump, alternator etc.

When Air Con is not in use the pulley wheel is in a freewheel state and you will see that the outer end with 4 large nuts on it is stationary.

When air con is switched on a clutch type mechanism engages the drive and both wheels rotate at speed. As the Air Con works to cool the interior of the car it will very quickly send a pulse down the purple wire to activate the Air Con Fan - The engine cooling fan is controlled in a similar manner.

If the Air Con Fan does not cut in the pressure in the system rises and a pressure sensor should shut down the Air Con Compressor.

10 days ago on that hot Monday we were stuck in a tail back on the M25 and I think that because the Fan was not cutting in correctly the pressure rose but the pressure switch did not do its job and we suffered a blow out of fluid - only about an egg cup full.

We think that our fans have not been working for over 12 months. Diesel engines run a lot, lot cooler than a petrol one and rarely require the Engine Cooling fan to engage - except in exceptionally hot weather. Both of our problems occurred on the hottest days of the year.

I would check that the air con fan does cut in - when engine hot, raise the bonnet and switch on the air con to a low temperature and you should see the fan cut in fairly quickly - within 2 minutes. Act accordingly if it does not.

Check to see if the leak is still there - was it just a blow out?
Get the Air Con system checked and regassed if you have not had it done in the last 30 months Tattoos - Why would you choose to look like the wall of a public toilet?

The Road Toad wrote:

Check to see if the leak is still there - was it just a blow out?
Get the Air Con system checked and regassed if you have not had it done in the last 30 months

- About 2 weeks ago as its was empty.

I have to say thats a brill walk through - most of which I think I know ( but didnt know what they did ).... I'll try tomorrow.

As to the amount... its only dripping but as the underside of the fan is coated it may just be an egg cup full.

Thanks - will let you know how I get on.

T Terran



'The' Car For The Modern Day UK Roads ( ie all the pot holes )

'A Freelander that leaks oil is just marking its territory' - Wise words

Now a member of the FL2 'Silly Bill' Club

Update - all of the above working fine

Does any one know where I can get an exploded diagram of the AC so I can check pipes etc to make sure every thing is tight etc ?

T Terran



'The' Car For The Modern Day UK Roads ( ie all the pot holes )

'A Freelander that leaks oil is just marking its territory' - Wise words

Now a member of the FL2 'Silly Bill' Club