Air conditioning performance

[Matt90110]

Does anyone have any experience or comments on the performance of the Freelander air-conditioining.

My wife has a one year old ES and the air con is (I think) particularly poor. It never gets really cold and on a hot day it doesn't seem to cope well at all, the car never really seems to get cool at all. What reduction in temperature does occur takes at least 10 minutes to happen too.

Other car air con I've experienced has made an effect almost immediately, and makes the cabin actually cold...!

Is the standard on a Freelander, or do you think there might be something wrong with the system?

Hope you can help.

Yours (in a pool of sweat)

Matt

[s.stirley]

I've read a lot of comments about it being poor .. however mine is a damn sight better than the last 2 cars we had - I actually have to turn it OFF because I get too cold, even when it's 30C+ outside ! even the lowest fan setting with recirc seems to get the cabin down to under 20 with relative ease .. note to self - take digital thermometer home tonight ..

Having some experience working on AC though I'd suggest a couple of things -

1. measure the temperature of the air coming from the vents - set the blower on full and recirc and to the top vents. The air should be under 10C for a new R134a refrigerant system.

2. feel the low-side pipe from the compressor under the bonnet. With the AC engaged the fatter of the two pipes that goes to the compressor should be really very very cold ..

If either of the above are not true then you have some sort of problem, most likely low refrigerant either from seals drying out (they do that if it's not used regularly) or from a leak somewhere. Best step next is to get the pressure tested at an AC shop. If you're anywhere near Cambridge I can do this for you free.

HTH, Simon (chilling !)

[Matt90110]

Thanks Simon,

I'll give it a go and let you know what happens.

Matt

[stevec]

Mine seems to start pumping out cold air almost as soon as I switch it on. It never seems to get the interior down to Arctic conditions but, IMHO, goes as far as is necessary - i.e it doesn't overdo the cooling like some systems seem to do.