started the car and left the aircon running to cool the car the other day.

When I got in however it was blowing warm. Once I started driving it was ok. Is that normal?

Year, miles, AC service history, risk of theft checking this.

Will consult my glass ball. Seems you need a AC gas top up. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

It's a 2009, not had an AC top up in the 3.5 years I've had it. Don't know about before that.

At idle it is totally warm, when driving its icy cold.

I did wonder if the Freelander has a pressure cutoff for the compressor? Maybe at idle the pressure isn't quite high enough and the compressor switches off.

Yes, it has a cut-off, and if the front engine fans are not working this is what is happening.
On stationary there is no cooling of the condenser and therefore the pressure rise and the compressor is cut off.
When moving the natural motion air flow is cooling the condenser, reducing the pressure in the circuit and all is OK.
Check if the front fans are working when stationary, at least at slow speed, when the AC is ON. If not, check the fan module on the back of the radiators.
Disconnect the connector from the top, the one with 2 thick wires and one thin and check of signs of corrosion or bad contacts.
If still not working after reinserting the connector and if the fans work when powered up directly from 12V, replace the fan module.

Get the AC topped up and then worry: Mine is cold as ice on tick-over if you select the lowest settings (dual type). You should hear a discern-able engine note change once started and then selecting the AC due to the pump loading the engine. Does yours do this at tick-over ?

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION Intake Air Control - Single Zone Manual System The intake air source is controlled manually by pressing the fresh/recirculated air switch located on the control panel. When pressed, the ATC module will illuminate the switch tell-tale Light Emitting Diode (LED) and close the air intake door. A second press of the switch will cause the ATC module to extinguish the switch LED and open the air intake door, allowing fresh air to enter the cabin. • NOTE: The ATC module will reduce the amount of fresh air entering the cabin to reduce the ram effect caused by forward motion of the vehicle. When recirculated air is selected, the ATC module will return the air intake door to the open position after a period of 3 minutes. This helps prevent misting within the cabin. The 3 minute time period for recirculated air can be overridden by pressing and holding the fresh/recirculated air switch until the switch LED flashes 3 times. The air intake door will now remain closed until the next drive cycle. The ATC module controls the position of the air intake door by providing LIN bus messages to the air intake door stepper motor. A Hall effect sensor located within the stepper motor informs the ATC module that movement of the stepper motor is taking place. Intake Air Control - Dual Zone Automatic System The intake air source is controlled automatically unless overridden by pressing the fresh/recirculated air switch located on the control panel. Under automatic control, the ATC module determines the required position of the air intake door using its 'comfort' algorithm based on inputs from the ambient air temperature sensor and the cabin temperature sensor. When the vehicle first enters power mode 6 (ignition on), the tell-tale LED on the fresh/recirculated air switch will be illuminated and the air intake source will be automatically controlled by the ATC module. The ATC module will control the intake air source according to ambient air temperature and requested cabin temperature. The intake air door will be opened to allow fresh air into the cabin, although a small amount of recirculated air will also be present. • NOTE: The ATC module will reduce the amount of fresh air entering the cabin to reduce the ram effect caused by forward motion of the vehicle. A single press of the fresh/recirculated air switch will extinguish the tell-tale LED. The ATC module will now close the air intake door and provide only recirculated air into the cabin for a period of 3 minutes. After this period, the ATC module will return the air intake door to automatic control. This helps prevent misting within the cabin. A second press of the fresh/recirculated air switch will also return the intake air source to automatic control and illuminate the tell-tale LED. The 3 minute time period for recirculated air can be overridden by pressing and holding the fresh/recirculated air switch until the switch LED flashes 3 times. The air intake door will now remain closed until the next drive cycle. The ATC module controls the position of the air intake door by providing LIN bus messages to the air intake door stepper motor. A Hall effect sensor located within the stepper motor informs the ATC module that movement of the stepper motor is taking place. Intake Air Control - Dual Zone Automatic System with Pollution Sensor
The intake air source is controlled automatically unless overridden by pressing the fresh/recirculated air switch located on the control panel. Under automatic control, the ATC module determines the required position of the air intake door using its 'comfort' algorithm based on inputs from the ambient air temperature sensor, the cabin temperature sensor and the pollution sensor. • NOTE: The ATC module will reduce the amount of fresh air entering the cabin to reduce the ram effect caused by forward motion of the vehicle. When the vehicle first enters power mode 6 (ignition on), the 'AUTO' tell-tale LED on the fresh/recirculated air switch will be illuminated and the air intake source will be automatically controlled by the ATC module. A single press of the fresh/recirculated air switch will extinguish the 'AUTO' tell-tale LED and illuminate the 'MAN' tell-tale LED. The ATC module will now close the air intake door and provide only recirculated air into the cabin for a period of 3 minutes. After this period, the ATC module will return the air intake door to automatic control. This helps prevent misting within the cabin. A second press of the fresh/recirculated air switch will extinguish both the 'AUTO' and 'MAN' tell-tale LED's. The ATC module will now control the intake air source according to ambient air temperature and requested cabin temperature. The air intake door will be opened to allow fresh air into the cabin, but a small amount of recirculated air will also be present. The amount of recirculated air is determined by the ATC module using its 'comfort' algorithm based on inputs from the ambient air temperature sensor and the cabin temperature sensor. A third press of the fresh/recirculated air switch returns the air intake source to automatic control and will illuminate the 'AUTO' tell-tale LED. The 3 minute time period for recirculated air can be overridden by pressing and holding the fresh/recirculated air switch until the switch LED's flash 3 times. The air intake door will now remain closed until the next drive cycle. The ATC module controls the position of the air intake door by providing LIN bus messages to the air intake door stepper
motor. A Hall effect sensor located within the stepper motor informs the ATC module that movement of the stepper motor is taking place. Air Temperature Control - Single Zone Manual System Cabin temperature selection is made by turning the LH rotary controller to the required position. Turning the controller counter clockwise will lower the temperature of the air exiting the heater assembly; turning the controller clockwise will raise the temperature of the air exiting the heater assembly. Maximum heating and cooling is represented on the control panel by a red and blue dot respectively. When either maximum heating or cooling is selected, the 'comfort' algorithm in the ATC module will adopt a suitable strategy for air source, air distribution and blower speed to maintain maximum heating or cooling within the cabin. The ATC module adjusts the temperature of the air exiting the heater assembly by moving the position of the temperature blend door. The temperature blend door directs a proportion of cooled air from the evaporator through the heater core to produce the required temperature output. The ATC module adjusts the position of the temperature blend door by providing LIN bus messages to the blend door stepper motor. A Hall effect sensor located within the stepper motor informs the ATC module that movement of the stepper motor is taking place. Air Temperature Control - Dual Zone Automatic System Dual zone systems feature 2 rotary heating controllers, which allow individual climate control for the LH and RH sides of the cabin. Temperature selection can be made by turning the controller to the required temperature marked on the control panel. Turning either controller past the 16°C (61°F) mark will initiate the maximum cooling strategy; turning either controller past the 28°C (82°F) mark will initiate the maximum heating strategy. • NOTE: Maximum cooling or heating can only be achieved if both rotary controllers are set to the same position. The ATC module is able to maintain constant temperatures in both sides of the cabin by monitoring the feedback from the cabin temperature sensor. Unless any manual overrides have been selected, the ATC module will automatically control the intake air source, air distribution into the cabin and blower speed to maintain the required temperatures. Dual zone systems feature 2 temperature blend doors, allowing individual temperature output for the LH and RH sides of the cabin. • NOTE: The drivers side temperature setting has priority over the passengers side temperature setting. The temperature blend doors are mounted on the LH side of the heater assembly and direct a proportion of cooled air from the evaporator through the heater core to provide the required temperature outputs. The ATC module controls the position of the temperature blend doors by providing LIN bus messages to the blend door stepper motors. Hall effect sensors located within the stepper motors inform the ATC module that movement of the stepper motors is taking place. Blower Motor Control - Single Zone Manual System
Blower motor speed is set by turning the RH rotary controller to the required position. The RH rotary controller allows the selection of 14 blower motor speeds. Turning the controller fully counter clockwise will turn the blower motor off. Operation of the blower motor is controlled by the ATC module via the blower motor control module. The ATC module provides a PWM signal to the blower motor control module based on the selected blower speed. The blower motor control module interprets the PWM signal as a blower motor speed and controls the voltage to the blower motor accordingly. Blower Motor Control - Dual Zone Automatic System
Blower motor speed is controlled automatically by the ATC module unless a manual override has been requested. Manual overrides to blower motor speed can be made by turning the central rotary controller to the required position. The rotary controller allows the manual selection of 7 blower motor speeds. Turning the controller fully counter clockwise will turn the blower motor off. When a manual override has been made, the 'AUTO' LED located in the center of the rotary controller will extinguish. • NOTE: The central rotary controller contains 2 LED's. The top (round) LED will illuminate when the blower motor is under automatic control. The bottom (rectangular) LED will illuminated when air distribution into the cabin is under automatic control (see below). The blower motor can be returned to automatic control by pressing the 'AUTO' switch located in the center of the rotary controller. Under automatic control, the ATC module varies the speed of the blower motor in line with its 'comfort' algorithm to maintain the required cabin temperature. The ATC module will also vary the blower motor speed to compensate for the ram effect on intake air produced by forward movement of the vehicle. Operation of the blower motor is controlled by the ATC module via the blower motor control module. The ATC module provides a PWM signal to the blower motor control module based on the required blower speed. The blower motor control module interprets the PWM signal as a blower motor speed and controls the voltage to the blower motor accordingly. Air Distribution Control - Single Zone Manual System Air distribution into the cabin can be adjusted by turning the central rotary controller to the required position. The ATC module adjusts the position of the air distribution door to the required position by providing LIN bus messages to the air distribution door stepper motor. A Hall effect sensor located within the stepper motor informs the ATC module that movement of the stepper motor is taking place. Air Distribution Control - Dual Zone Automatic System Air distribution into the cabin is controlled automatically by the ATC module unless any manual overrides have been requested. Manual overrides can be made by pressing the appropriate air distribution momentary switch on the control panel. If a manual override has been requested, the 'AUTO' LED located in the center of the blower motor rotary controller will extinguish. • NOTE: The central rotary controller contains 2 LED's. The top (round) LED will illuminate when the blower motor is under automatic control (see above). The bottom (rectangular) LED will illuminated when air distribution into the cabin is under
automatic control. Air distribution can be returned to automatic control by pressing the 'AUTO' switch located in the center of the blower motor rotary controller. This will illuminate the 'AUTO' LED and allow the ATC module to control air distribution in line with its 'comfort' algorithm Air distribution is controlled by 2 air distribution doors. The ATC module controls the position of the air distribution doors by providing LIN bus messages to the door stepper motors. Hall effect sensors located within the stepper motors inform the ATC module that movement of the stepper motors is taking place. ECON - Single Zone Manual System Pressing the 'ECON' momentary switch on the control panel will switch off the A/C system. When selected, the ATC module will transmit a message over the high speed CAN bus to the ECM requesting the A/C compressor is disabled. The ECM disables the compressor by de-energizing the A/C compressor control relay located in the BJB. The tell-tale LED in the switch will illuminate to alert the vehicle occupants that the system is in 'ECON' mode. When 'ECON' mode is selected, temperature control is still available but no cooling of intake air will take place. The minimum output air temperature from the system will be ambient air temperature plus any heat pick up in the air intake path. A/C can be switched back on by pressing the 'ECON' switch a second time. This will also extinguish the 'ECON' LED. Stop/Start Vehicles - From 2010 MY From 2010 MY, the 'ECON' switch will be labeled ‘A/C’ to prevent confusion with the ‘Eco’ switch which operates the ‘Stop/Start’ and 'Gear Change Indicator' systems. For additional information, refer to: Starting System (303-06C Starting System - TD4 2.2L Diesel, Vehicles Built From: 01-03-2009, Description and Operation). ECON - Dual Zone Automatic System Pressing the 'ECON/OFF' momentary switch in the control panel will switch off the A/C system. When selected, the ATC module will transmit a message over the high speed CAN bus to the ECM requesting the A/C compressor is disabled. The ECM disables the compressor by de-energizing the A/C compressor control relay located in the BJB. The 'ECON' tell-tale LED in the switch will illuminate to alert the vehicle occupants that the system is in 'ECON' mode. When 'ECON' mode is selected, temperature control is still available but no cooling of intake air will take place. The minimum output air temperature from the system will be ambient air temperature plus any heat pick up in the air intake path. A second press of the 'ECON/OFF' switch will extinguish the 'ECON' LED and illuminate the 'OFF' LED. When in 'OFF' mode the ATC module sets the blower motor speed to 0. Air distribution into the cabin will remain as previously selected. All LED's on the control panel will be extinguished, although night time illumination will remain active. • NOTE: When in 'OFF' mode, the heated seat, heated windshield and heated rear window functions will still be available. A third press of the 'ECON/OFF' switch returns the system to normal (A/C) operation and extinguishes the 'OFF' LED. The system can be returned to automatic operation at any time by pressing the 'AUTO' switch mounted in the central (blower motor) rotary controller. Stop/Start Vehicles - From 2010 MY From 2010 MY, the 'ECON' switch will be labeled ‘A/C’ to prevent confusion with the ‘Eco’ switch which operates the ‘Stop/Start’ and 'Gear Change Indicator' systems. For additional information, refer to: Starting System (303-06C Starting System - TD4 2.2L Diesel, Vehicles Built From: 01-03-2009, Description and Operation). FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Think I got that - glad you cut that down to the basics

And the record for the longest cut 'n' paste post goes to............  Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

I though he typed it in himself... I was very impressed

Well he did ask  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Bet OP got through the first 500 words and then forgot what his original post was about

alex_pescaru wrote:

Yes, it has a cut-off, and if the front engine fans are not working this is what is happening.
On stationary there is no cooling of the condenser and therefore the pressure rise and the compressor is cut off.
When moving the natural motion air flow is cooling the condenser, reducing the pressure in the circuit and all is OK.
Check if the front fans are working when stationary, at least at slow speed, when the AC is ON. If not, check the fan module on the back of the radiators.
Disconnect the connector from the top, the one with 2 thick wires and one thin and check of signs of corrosion or bad contacts.
If still not working after reinserting the connector and if the fans work when powered up directly from 12V, replace the fan module.

Sidthecat wrote:

Bet OP got through the first 500 words and then forgot what his original post was about

Thehorse wrote:

I'd have thought they'd only come on when the engine coolant gets too hot.

Alex, I thought the pressure switch to detect low pressure in case of gas leak to protect the compressor running without refrigerant?

Anyhow I left it running for several minutes and neither the upper or lower fan came on.

I checked the input to the radiator fan control module with an oscilloscope and the thin purple wire is floating between 2 to 2.4 volts. I think I read that it is supposed to be PWM or a CAN/LIN signal. Does anyone know if that is correct? If so sounds like it could be an issue on the ECU?

It's not a pressure switch in FL2 case, is a pressure sensor which can report any pressure in the circuit.
The ECU take action based on that information. Too low and doesn't start the compressor at all. Between low and high and it starts the compressor. Too high and stops the compressor.
Yes it is supposed to be PWM. The fans are driven by the Engine ECU. How did you checked the input with the scope? With the wire in circuit, connector inserted, or with the wire in air, with the connector removed? If later, maybe it is an open collector drive and you need to put a resistor to VCC to see the signal.