Well, I'm looking at this vehicle's air conditioning right now, and I think that it needs a recharge. I didn't really dig into it further, but what I do know is that I can hear the compressor clutch recycling on and off.

So, I did try a few air conditioning recharging kits that were in my parents' garage, but none of them seemed to fit the low pressure service port. Apparently, this Jaguar has its own specific air conditioning recharging kit. Any thoughts? Any recommendation as to which recharging kit I should purchase? Thanks. I'm assuming that this Jaguar also takes R134A refrigerant.

 

Jaguar uses the world standard size for the gauge connections. If the bottle won't fit it is because you are trying to put it on the High Pressure gauge port and not the Low Pressure Port.
Using a bottle from the local auto store will give you the opportunity to overcharge the system and permanently damage the compressor. The Jaguar requires a specific amount of refrigerant measured by weight. To properly service the system it needs to be pumped down and put under a vacuum to insure no leaks. Then the proper amount by weight of refrigerant put back in the system. No other short cuts end in success.
The system has both a high pressure and low pressure cut out that will turn the compressor on and off. Without a set of gauges on the system you can't tell if you are experiencing high or low pressure.

 

Thanks for the reply Vern. As far as I knew, the larger diameter service port was connected to the low pressure side, but I could be wrong. Hmmmm....It almost sounds like I should take the car to the local Jaguar dealer to get the air conditioning repaired, but I hate bringing the vehicle to the dealer for anything. It seems that their mechanic doesn't know much of anything over there so I'm afraid that all he would be doing was guessing at the problem (at my expense).

 

Take it to an a/c specialist, my mechanic could not find the leak. (VW Passat)

 

merion wrote: "Take it to an a/c specialist, my mechanic could not find the leak. (VW Passat)".


I might have to go that route as I don't have much faith in the local Jaguar mechanic. In fact, I had to follow up after him even with a simple engine oil change. Regrettably, I'm afraid that I would be just be throwing money at the problem over there (along with return visits).

 

That's why i learned how, & am still learning how, to fix my own stuff, when it's possible.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273036428947


Based on some of the responses that I've received thus far, I decided to order one of these AC recharging kits on eBay. From what I could gather, only a few of the AC recharging kits out there are actually compatible with the 2005 Jaguar XJ8L. Well, that's about what I figured when I tried charging the vehicle a few days ago with some of the AC recharging kits that I found in my parents' garage. In retrospect, it may have been a blessing in disguise as one would apparently want to use a gauge while attempting this with the Jaguar.

The AC system in this 2005 Jaguar obviously has a leak, but I think that it is a very minute one. A simple recharge in this case might last a season or two. At any rate, the seller of this AC recharging kit and I both settled on $20.00 USD as the final price.

 

Keep us informed, have not needed to do this YET, & have only a basic idea, how to do this job.

 

Wingrider: It will likely be a couple of weeks before I'm able to recharge the AC system as the AC recharging kit is coming directly from China. Hopefully, the electric engine cooling fan is still running as I didn't happen to locate it firsthand, and that fan must work in order for the air conditioning to function.

I've worked on auto air conditioning systems before, but it was limited to replacing a refrigerant steel tube along with a dryer. Beyond that, I had recharged auto AC systems multiple times in the past, but it was some time ago. In fact, I still have the AC manifold gauges that I used in recharging auto AC systems, but those AC manifold gauges were specifically designed for vehicles with the R12 refrigerant.

Still, with the older vehicles using Freon R12 (which I still have around in a canister), all one really needed to do in most cases was to add refrigerant until it felt cool by the ducts. Obviously, this Jaguar at least is different. It apparently requires a specialized AC recharging kit with a gauge, but using a gauge is really a more preferred and professional way of recharging the AC system. I will update this. Regards.

 

Have to vac the system to check for leaks, as well to make room for the charge of a specific amount in weight, if my understanding of things is correct.

 

Yes, the best way by far towards repairing the AC is vacuuming the system, and checking for leaks. However, I'm not planning on making a particular project out of this. The new AC recharging kit does include a gauge so that will help insure that only the proper amount of refrigerant will be added to the system.

As I mentioned previously, I think that the leak that I have is minute so that's a plus. Moreover, refrigerants do contain additives that can actually seal up very small leaks.

After I receive the AC recharging kit, I will post a step by step procedure of what I did in recharging the AC system on my 2005 Jaguar XJ8L (including photos).

 

A vacuum pump is around $100. Your Jag is worth it.

 

Have noticed over the years, the garage continues to grow full of tools to fix everything needed, as well as the toys. The wallet grows ever thinner, the body ever weaker. How cheerful, the thoughts, going through ones head, on occasions.Get the vac pump

 

Yes, I can pick up a vacuum pump, but it won't tell me anything more than I already suspect. There is obviously a very small leak in the system, and likely by the compressor. Of course, if I'm going to go that route, I would also have to pick up a leak detector as well. Then I would just go ahead and permanently repair the leak.

Well, I'm trying to avoid all that trouble and expense by simply using a common layman's approach to the problem. If the recharge doesn't solve it, then there was no actual harm done other than the expense of the $20 recharge kit and the 1-2 cans of refrigerant.

 

 

Recharge with a small can containing a UV dye. Buy a $10 UV LED light on eBay. Then you will find the source of the leak.

 

Panelhead wrote: "The volume of Freon in the system is surprising. Very small. Try a 1/4 can. Then a half. Most likely will be overcharged with a half can".


Thanks for the tip as I'll remember that At any rate, the new AC charging kit does come with a gauge so I think that I'll be all right in that regard.

 

Dan wrote: "Recharge with a small can containing a UV dye. Buy a $10 UV LED light on eBay. Then you will find the source of the leak".




Interesting. I'll certainly keep that in mind. For the time being though, I'll just use a can of R134A as there's one can available in my parents' garage.

 

Hmmm...........Well, the AC recharging kit arrived in the mail yesterday, and I attempted to recharge the 2005 Jaguar XJ8L AC system this afternoon. Up to now, I still haven't managed to get the new AC recharging kit to connect to the AC low pressure service port as it doesn't seem to fit. I drew a red line with two of the enclosed photos to indicate the AC low pressure service port. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

Here is a close up view of the AC low pressure service port. Follow the red line.