air con controller

[adamc]

I am told that the air con ecu is attached to the firewall behind the dash. I have just recently got a large bill to fix this, but can't find anything about it in the bible.... and can't find anything in old forum posts.

Would like to get more info to put my mind at rest. The aircon has stopped working again, and I'm really suffering here in Aus....

[shpub]

What air con ECU? The air con control is a switch on the heater/ventilation. Most common problem is leaky pipes causing the system to degas or overheating causing the system to shutdown and degas.

[DustyC]

Since this car is in Australia perhaps the A?C is retro fitted. Very popular and necessary over there.

When I worked for Toyota I was able to discount new cars for customers by offering after sales AC instead of the Toyota option (not in all cases though).

>> Edited by DustyC on Thursday 12th February 09:53

[shpub]

I doubt it as that would require taking a chainsaw to the car - bit of an exaggeration but not far off the truth. Big let's dismantle and remove the whole interior of the car type job.

[DustyC]

I thought Id read of someone retro fitting AC to a Griff.
Sorry, must be mistaken.

[shpub]

It can be done... but only on later cars that had the A/C compatible heater/venting. It costs around 2-3000 pnds to do. So not many people have done it. Even so it is just like the normal system and there is no ECU just a switch to turn it on or off. No climate/temp control so no need for an ECU.

[simpo two]

adamc said:

I have just recently got a large bill to fix this

Hmmmm! Time to ask them what they actually did....

[adamc]

yes, well. Apparently 16 hours of labour to remove dash, find problem, $650 sublet to repair ecu, refit, regas, and testing etc.

I ma very interested in your comments on this guys, so don't hold back. It's not going to turn into a legal problem, I just want to find out how it could cost me Aus $3000 to fix the aircon when they initially thought it just needed a regas......

[mongoose]

shpub said:

It can be done... but only on later cars that had the A/C compatible heater/venting. It costs around 2-3000 pnds to do. So not many people have done it. Even so it is just like the normal system and there is no ECU just a switch to turn it on or off. No climate/temp control so no need for an ECU.

oh it can be done,and its bly marvelous.as for cost,a little more than your top estimate steve,but still well worth it omho!as you rightly say,this is to a later car with appropriate controls,and is fitted exactly as the factory did.the best advice i can give you adam is that once youve had the system tested,and know that the correct amount of gas is still present,is to remove the dash yourself-not too tricky,just time consuming.also remove the access panel behind the airflow meter.this will save you a lot in labour charges and enable a specialist to get at what they need to to check it out.the pressure sensor could be faulty,or the temp sensor that stops the matrix icing up could,although apparently less likely,be faulty.either way,a basic gas content(should be 0.85kg of hfc)and leak check should come first.apparently hfc's leak quite easily due to their v.small molecule size-the most common problem with all a/c systems today.

[Guillotine]

my griff has factory a/c - no ecu for it.

all done with relays and a pressure switch.

check threads (griff) as there was a good break down of the system about 6 months ago.

most likely cause of failure is lack of gas/pressure which means the compressor won't engage. cause, hole on condensor (radiator) or leaky pipe unions.

press your button, relay energises for compressor (via pressure switch) comp spins lifting pressure to freeze gas, thru drier (cylinder by rad-inner wing) to coils in blower/heater. then thru radiator and back to comp.

standard range rover / TVR system has no ECU.

had this prob last year, had condensor refurbed. £200!

hope this helps