I haven't done much since I purchased a 73 lumper. it doesn't have A/C, but it looks like a condenser in front of the radiator. So... what do I look for that tells me if this was originally an A/C car ?
Thanks,
Jim

 

You need to look behind the radio for the thermostat that should be attached to the left hand knob... the tube from the thermostat goes into the evaporator housing that is large and fits against the firewall inside the car..

If no thermostat or evaporator... you have major problems with any AC use... check the partial parts diagram attached...

Get a Jag parts manual and confirm which parts are there and might be missing... hard to find some of the parts today... also should be a expansion
valve attached to the top of the evaporator and a tube going into the engine compartment... all will be shown in the Jag parts listing.

 

Thanks, Roger. That will lead me down the path to discovery !

 

Is it an original USA-market car?

I'm 98% sure that *every* XJ6/12 that came to the USA had air conditioning. It may have been shown as optional equipment on the window sticker but it really wasn't optional. Jaguar USA ordered all of them with a/c

Cheers
DD

 

Inspection will tell what is left so you can plan on what to do... knowing that will determine if you can get it working again. PO's do the strangest things!

 

There was nothing on the car when I got it. I'm thinking of YOU-PICK and finding a GM car to take everything I need. Perhaps some of you fellow lumpers can point me in the right direction as to what to grab from the GM car.... and what headaches lie ahead .
Thanks much,
Jim

 

Jim, there are some pictures in the thread linked below of a 73 series 1 with air con fitted. It is a RHD but will give you some idea of what you are looking for. Some of the pictures are in later posts in the thread so scroll through it. No need to read,it is only relevant if you are trying to repair a system.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...sional-142473/

 

The biggest problem is not what is missing under the hood... but what might not be there inside the car... check for the missing pieces... any AC shop fool can install a compressor and hook up the lines...

I have found the modern compressors are better than the GM A6 models.. all will work but you have to see what is still there inside the car FIRST!


Your system will not look at all like the link in the post above... easiest way to tell is to take off the parcel tray above the radio... you can then see behind
the radio and determine if the AC controls are (still) there. There are ways to get even non working controls fixed or substituted for modern stuff.

My two S1 cars have very cold AC systems that work well with R134 modern refrigerant. The secret is in a modern cross flow AC condenser, proper working valves and making sure the engine runs at the proper temps... sealing up the engine compartment so all the air flow goes through the condenser and radiator - not around the top and sides.

Determine what pieces you have in the car from Jaguar and we can help with the rest..

 

Well, the presence of the condensor in front of the radiator is a good indication of AC being in the car at one time. That and Doug's comments as to USA bound cars. So, the odds are good. Minor wild card. A "grey market" car with an after market AC .


Look at the fire wall in the vicinity of the heater control valve. Connectors for the refrigerant hoses?? Yes, good. No, not so good.


Carl

 

I don't have any History on the car ,Doug, but I bet money that it's a US car

 

Thanks, guys ! The car is still down in Texas, at a friends shop. I'll be going there next Month and can dig into it. Again, thanks for all the info - I should be able to find my answer noiw.
Jim

 

Thanks again, Guys ! Another question, 'Fireball" is showing a picture of his Mark4 set-up. Will my adding A/C parts be able to use existing Dutctwork or will I need to use an underdash set-up ?
Thanks,
Jim

 

Hi, new to all this,a quick check of the fuse box if there are fuses for A/C that might tell you something?

 

If you have the stock Jaguar AC parts behind your radio, it will include a evaporator unit and all the ducting... you will not have any vents "stock" in the parcel tray above the radio... they can be easily added - one or two. The Mark IV unit is a aftermarket unit, not Jaguar stock... I have never seen one in person.

Just remove the two screws holding the parcel tray and look behind and below for the thermostat and your concerns will be answered - one way or the other... sounds like you have a high probability of having AC when new...

I attached a picture of the parts you are looking, the evaporator (big thing in the center) and the expansion valve on the top with the curly lines... if you have those and the thermostat in the prior picture you are in great shape.. getting the AC compressor off a junk car or buying a new modern
unit would be your choice.. I never buy used AC or electrical stuff.

You would need new hoses and a drier and other parts anyway... a modern condenser really helps the performance of the AC to work. These units were anemic when new... not much need for AC in the UK I understand?

Having fuses for the AC is not a good test, they could have used that circuit for other things over the years...

 

Thanks, Roger.... great info and much appreciated !
Jim

 

Apologies for leading you astray, I didn't necessarily mean your system would look the same as mine. Just what the components would look like when you uncovered them under your dash.
The Mark IV was dealer fitted to new cars in Australia as from what I understand none came here with factory aircon.