Air Conditioning Compressor... My aircon mechanic tells me that my aircon compressor is leaking and therefore needs a replacement. Is this a job for a Jaguar Specialist, or has anyone successfully replaced the compressor themselves ? Is it a difficult job for a mechanic ? Regards, Docko
my car is a 2003 Xtype 2.1 petrol V6 Auto.

 

Docko, can you replace the compressor yourself, sure, lots of people here have done that. Where you are going to run into issues is that you can't just replace the compressor and then dump the necessary amount of freon into the system and expect it to run properly. Freon systems need to have all air removed from the system before admitting freon. So, this is going to require a vacuum pump and a gauge to get down to as low of a vacuum as you can get (minimum is 26 inches, getting to 30+ is ideal). I don't know many people with this stuff in their garage. I am sure some do. What most people do is replace the compressor, then pull the fuse for the A/C compressor clutch (this ensures the compressor does not engage with no oil in it, yes, the freon you put in has an oil in it to lubricate the bearings, hence why you have to shake the can up before adding freon) and then drive the car to a shop to have them draw the vacuum and put in the necessary amount of freon.

Make sure to have new seals for the piping. If you are going to have a leak, it will be there. On another legal note, by definition, you are not supposed to just dump the freon to the atmosphere. IT is supposed to be reclaimed. Have people done it, sure. But, get caught, it can be a little pricey (varies based on area). Most shops will not ask when you bring the vehicle in. So, your call.