I have not driven my XJ6 as much as I should have during the last 3.5 years
(about 300 miles). Not surprisingly the freon has escaped from the AC
system. I have to admit to being confused as to whether or not the AC runs
even in the winter when the system is calling for heat. Put it another
way: Am I hurting anything by running the car from time to time without
getting the AC system recharged? Or must I hop to it and get the AC system
recharged or else I run the risk of damaging the compressor. I sure hope
this question makes sense.
(I know, I know these cars need to be driven. I’ve read that many, many
times from all of you. I have decided to, indeed, put the cat on an
exercise program. I’m looking forward to driving the car weekly at lease
20-25 each time to make certain all the fluids are warmed up each time I
take it for a drive)
Paul, yes, the system is designed to operate the compressor in all modes,
even when heat is called for, for the purpose of dehumidifying the air.
If you are out of freon the compressor won’t engage. The thermal limiter (or
pressure switch, if yours is a late '87) prevents the compressor from
working when freon is low.
However, compressors do like exercise so the oil can circulate and the seals
stay soft.
My advice, FWIW, is have the system recharged.
Doug Dwyer
Longview, Washington USA
I have not driven my XJ6 as much as I should have during the last 3.5
years
(about 300 miles). Not surprisingly the freon has escaped from the AC
system. I have to admit to being confused as to whether or not the AC
runs----- Original Message -----
From: “Paul Aslanian” paslani1@swarthmore.edu
even in the winter when the system is calling for heat. Put it another
way: Am I hurting anything by running the car from time to time without
getting the AC system recharged?
Question? Does the compressor operate in all heat modes or only defrost?----- Original Message -----
From: “Doug Dwyer” DWYERD@msn.com
To: “XJ List” xj@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 9:47 PM
Subject: Re: [xj] AC compressor in the winter
Paul, yes, the system is designed to operate the compressor in all modes,
even when heat is called for, for the purpose of dehumidifying the air.
If you are out of freon the compressor won’t engage. The thermal limiter
(or
pressure switch, if yours is a late '87) prevents the compressor from
working when freon is low.
However, compressors do like exercise so the oil can circulate and the
seals
stay soft.
I have not driven my XJ6 as much as I should have during the last 3.5
years
(about 300 miles). Not surprisingly the freon has escaped from the AC
system. I have to admit to being confused as to whether or not the AC
runs
even in the winter when the system is calling for heat. Put it another
way: Am I hurting anything by running the car from time to time without
getting the AC system recharged?
The compressor operates in ALL modes, regardless of the fan speed or
temperature selected, ALL modes.
Gregory----- Original Message -----
From: “bown” bown@concentric.net
To: “Doug Dwyer” DWYERD@msn.com; “XJ List” xj@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 7:11 AM
Subject: Re: [xj] AC compressor in the winter
: Question? Does the compressor operate in all heat modes or only defrost?
:
: ----- Original Message -----
: From: “Doug Dwyer” DWYERD@msn.com
: To: “XJ List” xj@jag-lovers.org
: Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 9:47 PM
: Subject: Re: [xj] AC compressor in the winter
:
:
: > Paul, yes, the system is designed to operate the compressor in all
modes,
: > even when heat is called for, for the purpose of dehumidifying the air.
: >
: > If you are out of freon the compressor won’t engage. The thermal limiter
: (or
: > pressure switch, if yours is a late '87) prevents the compressor from
: > working when freon is low.
: >
: > However, compressors do like exercise so the oil can circulate and the
: seals
: > stay soft.
: >
: > My advice, FWIW, is have the system recharged.
: >
: > Doug Dwyer
: > Longview, Washington USA
: >
: >
: > ----- Original Message -----
: > From: “Paul Aslanian” paslani1@swarthmore.edu
: > >
: > > I have not driven my XJ6 as much as I should have during the last 3.5
: > years
: > > (about 300 miles). Not surprisingly the freon has escaped from the AC
: > > system. I have to admit to being confused as to whether or not the AC
: > runs
: > > even in the winter when the system is calling for heat. Put it
another
: > > way: Am I hurting anything by running the car from time to time
without
: > > getting the AC system recharged?
: >
: >
: > ===================================================
: > The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
: > FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
: > Archives: http://www.jag-lovers.org/lists/search.html
: >
: > To remove yourself from this list, go to
: http://www.jag-lovers.org/cgi-bin/majordomo.
: >
: >
:
:
: ===================================================
: The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
: FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
: Archives: http://www.jag-lovers.org/lists/search.html
:
: To remove yourself from this list, go to http://www.jag-lovers.org/cgi-bin/majordomo.
:
Paul: the compressor does cycle on and off all the time when the climate
control is in use in order to dehumidify the air as well as cool it. The
refrigerated air is then blended to the required temperature with heated or
ambient air. But if your system is out of freon 12 then the compressor
protection circuit has come into operation; your compressor is no longer
cycling on and off, but the rest of the system works as usual. In other
words, you will get no dehumidification, and you will not get refrigerated
air.
You can run the system like this indefinitely. The problem is that
with the compressor not being used, the various seals in the AC system are
not being lubricated (and in fact, as your car has been used so little, this
is likely the original cause of the loss of freon). After this much time,
the compressor probably needs new seals. You may, in fcat, be in for
replacing the compressor. This is why Jaguar recommends weekly running of
the system. It does not have to be that frequently, in fact, but once a
month should be a minimum.
Gregory----- Original Message -----
From: “Paul Aslanian” paslani1@swarthmore.edu
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 8:15 PM
Subject: [xj] AC compressor in the winter
: Dear All,
:
: I have not driven my XJ6 as much as I should have during the last 3.5
years
: (about 300 miles). Not surprisingly the freon has escaped from the AC
: system. I have to admit to being confused as to whether or not the AC
runs
: even in the winter when the system is calling for heat. Put it another
: way: Am I hurting anything by running the car from time to time without
: getting the AC system recharged? Or must I hop to it and get the AC
system
: recharged or else I run the risk of damaging the compressor. I sure hope
: this question makes sense.
:
: (I know, I know these cars need to be driven. I’ve read that many, many
: times from all of you. I have decided to, indeed, put the cat on an
: exercise program. I’m looking forward to driving the car weekly at lease
: 20-25 each time to make certain all the fluids are warmed up each time I
: take it for a drive)
:
: Thanks,
: Paul
: '87 XJ6 (USA)
:
: ===================================================
: The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
: FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
: Archives: http://www.jag-lovers.org/lists/search.html
:
: To remove yourself from this list, go to http://www.jag-lovers.org/cgi-bin/majordomo.
:
One other function of the a/c system has not come up yet in this discussion.
In the 1976 XJ6C (carbureted) it cools the fuel before it gets to the
carburetors.
Now that I have my car running again after many years, surprise, no a/c. I
wonder if this is the explanation for the fast idle - about 1200. When
first started it is reasonably slow, but within minutes begins to creep
upwards.
Thought I could put off servicing the a/c. Bad idea? More specifically, is
no a/c an explanation for fast idle?
Gene McGough
Paul: the compressor does cycle on and off all the time when the climate
control is in use in order to dehumidify the air as well as cool it. The
refrigerated air is then blended to the required temperature with heated
or
ambient air. But if your system is out of freon 12 then the compressor
protection circuit has come into operation; your compressor is no longer
cycling on and off, but the rest of the system works as usual. In other
words, you will get no dehumidification, and you will not get refrigerated
air.
. . .> Gregory