Aircon compressor whine after a hard run

[J.Dubya]

Thanks Dave. It was a more metallic smell than burning rubber, but I think it's all semantics really. I don't know much about A/C compressors to be honest - so I'll take your guidance on it being the clutch on the compressor. That means new compressor presumably or can just the clutch be replaced? Biggest concern right now though is whether I should be covering any great distance in the car whilst the compressor is at death's door. Thoughts?

[Herman]

Thanks Dave. It was a more metallic smell than burning rubber, but I think it's all semantics really. I don't know much about A/C compressors to be honest - so I'll take your guidance on it being the clutch on the compressor. That means new compressor presumably or can just the clutch be replaced? Biggest concern right now though is whether I should be covering any great distance in the car whilst the compressor is at death's door. Thoughts?

You can get a new clutch but the likelihood is that the compressor is the culprit.
Normally a seized clutch means the compressor will be running all the time
Run in econ will disengage the clutch so should be alright to drive if not seized.

If the clutch engages but the compressor is seized the clutch may slip (as it's a magnetic one) until the point it actually locks up due to the heat build up.
Lots of scenarios but the best advice I can give is to replace the compressor and clutch.
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[J.Dubya]

All makes sense. Thank you chaps.

[Herman]

All makes sense. Thank you chaps.

Just have a quick read here http://www.accompressorpro.com/blog/...lutch-slippage

[J.Dubya]

Further to the above, I covered 1500 miles over multiple journeys with the aircon set to Econ and was planning to have the compressor swapped at the next service, due in another 900 miles - however a fortnight ago, I stopped for a quick bite 120miles from home, returned to the car and on turning the ignition, the pulley seized solid and snapped the serpentine belt. Shrieking belt-slip, smoke and smell and then heavy steering... This was in contrast with my fiancé who fell silent; arms crossed.

Was going to be staying 15miles away in Glastonbury for the weekend, so before calling the recovery truck out, I (checked on the forum for recommended mechanics local to Glastonbury but couldn't find anyone mentioned) so searched for a local garage who might be up to the job. Called-up Finlandya Custom, as their website shows vehicle restorations and a lot of Land Rover work. Figured they'll have seen plenty of V8s. Turns out they have a penchant for the interesting, have a range of experience on air-con units and they like their V8s.

Details on the forum helped me shortcut some of the painful diagnosis and pointed them in the right direction on part numbers and sourcing and route of the belt etc. I don't claim to know whether this is correct, but apparently the internal compressor seemed OK, but the outer bearing on the pulley was to blame. I asked them to swap the whole unit and requested the thorough flushing of the system to be on the safe side. They sourced a brand new compressor from a company in Bristol within a working day or two. It wasn't cheap, but it was a solution.

Time will tell whether the workmanship was good, but I picked the car up yesterday and it's nice not to have pebbles in a dustbin sound effects on start up now. Perhaps I am just used to 'you are number Z in the queue' London service, but the guys at Finlandya were super friendly. When Rob discovered we were staying in the area for the weekend and needed to get around, he threw me the keys to a Disco to use for the weekend at no cost and his home address to drop it off on Sunday night! Salvaged our weekend and indeed partially restored my popularity.

There is one thing now which I need to address, which is the temperature of the aircon. The mechanic highlighted that despite having tested the system for leaks and filled the aircon unit with 475 (450 +/- 50 permitted, so well within tolerance) it was still blowing warmer than expected air. I needed the car back and knew the truth lies somewhere on this forum, so I'll start working through the various tests and solutions mentioned in several of the threads here. I now think the failure of the aircon and the rise in its temperature to above ambient, which occurred before the gradual failure of the aircon pulley can't have been linked, as a complete, replacement compressor unit has not improved the situation. Anyway, fortunately, we're heading into winter, so I have a few months' grace to sort it out.

[re-tread]

Have a look for threads on failed heater valves and the Black Olive replacement. If your valve is leaking water through to the heater matrix the aircon will have little chance in keeping up. Putting a clamp on the bottom hose in the plenum will prove this one way or another.

[Nich]

Further to the above, I covered 1500 miles over multiple journeys with the aircon set to Econ and was planning to have the compressor swapped at the next service, due in another 900 miles - however a fortnight ago, I stopped for a quick bite 120miles from home, returned to the car and on turning the ignition, the pulley seized solid and snapped the serpentine belt. Shrieking belt-slip, smoke and smell and then heavy steering... This was in contrast with my fiancé who fell silent; arms crossed.

Was going to be staying 15miles away in Glastonbury for the weekend, so before calling the recovery truck out, I (checked on the forum for recommended mechanics local to Glastonbury but couldn't find anyone mentioned) so searched for a local garage who might be up to the job. Called-up Finlandya Custom, as their website shows vehicle restorations and a lot of Land Rover work. Figured they'll have seen plenty of V8s. Turns out they have a penchant for the interesting, have a range of experience on air-con units and they like their V8s.

Details on the forum helped me shortcut some of the painful diagnosis and pointed them in the right direction on part numbers and sourcing and route of the belt etc. I don't claim to know whether this is correct, but apparently the internal compressor seemed OK, but the outer bearing on the pulley was to blame. I asked them to swap the whole unit and requested the thorough flushing of the system to be on the safe side. They sourced a brand new compressor from a company in Bristol within a working day or two. It wasn't cheap, but it was a solution.

Time will tell whether the workmanship was good, but I picked the car up yesterday and it's nice not to have pebbles in a dustbin sound effects on start up now. Perhaps I am just used to 'you are number Z in the queue' London service, but the guys at Finlandya were super friendly. When Rob discovered we were staying in the area for the weekend and needed to get around, he threw me the keys to a Disco to use for the weekend at no cost and his home address to drop it off on Sunday night! Salvaged our weekend and indeed partially restored my popularity.

There is one thing now which I need to address, which is the temperature of the aircon. The mechanic highlighted that despite having tested the system for leaks and filled the aircon unit with 475 (450 +/- 50 permitted, so well within tolerance) it was still blowing warmer than expected air. I needed the car back and knew the truth lies somewhere on this forum, so I'll start working through the various tests and solutions mentioned in several of the threads here. I now think the failure of the aircon and the rise in its temperature to above ambient, which occurred before the gradual failure of the aircon pulley can't have been linked, as a complete, replacement compressor unit has not improved the situation. Anyway, fortunately, we're heading into winter, so I have a few months' grace to sort it out.

Many thanks James, very informative. Good to know about Finlandya Custom, I'll add it to the recommended list.

Nich.