The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

[Paulnanrod]

Hi

I’ve been helpfully pointed here from the Land Cruiser club forum, as I have had problems with my air con, and TonyC being in a hotter part of the world might know due to needing it… I knew when buying the car the air con wasn’t working, due to a hole in a pipe. This ended up being holes in each pipe and the bottom of the condenser leaking, so I’ve replaced all of the AC system apart from the compressor.

This has now failed, making a whirring/grinding sound when the AC is turned on and no cold air being pushed through. The gas is still full, so looks like the leaks have been sorted, so looks like The compressor needs repairing/replacing. Does anyone know if that is a big (expensive) job to replace, as I’m over £700 in for the AC system, so reluctant to put too much more in. My mechanic said wait to find out, but want to hear other people’s opinions

Thanks in advance for any help……

[Google]

[TONYCY11]

Hi Paul sorry to hear you are already 700 quid down in A/C repairs , but all is not lost , I know of a company in the UK that are specialists in A/C compressors and other A/C parts , first of all the compressor for the 120 is different if you have A/C in the rear , those are the 120s which have air spring suspension LC5s extra , if you have the lc3 or lc4 the compressor is the standard type , the compressor is a simple type pump and I know denso is a great brand but as A/C compressors go there is aftermarket brands that are just as good , As I said there is a company who has been trading on e bay since 2007 with 99.9% positive feedback with 78 thousand sales mainly selling compressors with a 5 YEARS WARRANTY and if you have the standard A/C setup in your 120 they sell premium quality compressors for just under 159 quid with a 5 year warranty for the lc3/lc4 , the company is called coolpartsuk , they will ask you for the vin number of your 120 to make sure you get the right compressor for your 120 ,  if you have any difficulty in locating them let me know ,

[Paulnanrod]

Thanks Tony - its an LC4, so no rear AC.

Will see what my mechanic says and if its a new one will use cool parts Uk, thanks. I’ve found them (i think) on e bay, and they have a compressor for LC, Prato etc for £190 with next day delivery so think that must be it.

[TONYCY11]

yes thats the one ,  The price I gave you must have been minus vat for export the the EU

[Paulnanrod]

No problem at all - appreciate the help….fingers crossed it gets it sorted as the compressor (if it is that like it seems, as there isn’t much left to replace) failed on a 30ish degree day half way through a holiday in France, so was a bit warm in the car for the rest of the holiday!

[TONYCY11]

when you get you a/c sorted as on any car , use the A/C at least once a week for 15 minuets so that the oil/gas mix lubricates the green O-rings in the A/C system , if not lubricated with oil/gas mix  they dry out and shrink with lack of use allowing A/C gas/oil mix to escape . and then when left like that  for a couple of years the compressor very soon seizes up when switched on due to drying up inside .

[Paulnanrod]

Thanks Tony - and apologies for my stupidity (excuse is coming from having newer cars that haven’t needed AC parts replacing), but would running it daily when using be enough, or would you advise against that when getting the compressor replaced?

I guess its the lack of use that has caused this, and when i went to use it i got a week of cold air, then the compressor looks to have failed….

Thanks

[TONYCY11]

I use mine every day and keep the setting at 16.5 centigrade as it reaches 40 centigrade here and dont drop below 34 centigrade for 3 to 4 months in summer , and still 20 plus centigrade in winter , I use the rear A/C once a week just to keep it all lubed up .

[Paulnanrod]

Ok - thanks for your help and advice. Just didn’t want to go running it each time i used it (albeit in slightly cooler temperatures!) and cause issues…..have always just left AC on in the past….thanks….

[karl2000]

See I knew Tony would know the score!

[Paulnanrod]

Haha thanks again

And my questions haven’t ended yet