Check it out, ladies & gents! I bet there are not many of these in South Africa!
Next, to find out if it actually works...
And if anyone has ever used one of these and has any tips, please pass them on. (There's quite detailed instructions with the "thing" and also in the Series 3 factory manual.)

 

The one the Foundation has is loaned out with the manual. So far no one has had an issue with the instructions. Best of luck and good find!

 

Since A/C problems are so common, can you give us an overview of what this device does?

 

In my high-level understanding, you can divide the A/C system into two parts - there's the closed system which circulates the refrigerant (compressor, condensor, evaporator etc.) which, so to speak, "creates" the cold & dried air, and then the climate-control system which uses the cold & dried air to maintain the desired air temperature in the cabin - i.e. by blending hot & cold air and directing it to the right parts of the cabin, at the right rate. The climate-control system (I think also called the HVAC) is the big contraption which sits low down behind the centre console in the car - pretty much right behind where the A/C control knobs are. If you access the HVAC and plug the Pektron tester into it, you can seemingly run a whole sequence of diagnostic tests to figure out if it's working properly, or if not, what's wrong with it.

 

Erich exactly correct--as with the cruse control tester and all of the other "boxes" for testing prior JDS/PDU/WDS/ OBD they are go-no go devices that over ride the control box and identify the problem.

 

I guess I should have said there are three components to the overall system - the air-chilling part (compressor etc.), the heater matrix, and the HVAC unit which manages the other two and distributes air around the car.
What do JDS/PDU/WDS/ OBD stand for?

 

Jaguar Diagnostic System/Portable Diagnostic Unit/World Diagnostic System -OBD--come on!

 

Ah OK. Too modern for me!

 

The refrigeration and heating systems are utterly non-exotic, thankfully

I would call it 'the control system'. 'Tis the control system that causes the grief.

Cheers
DD

 

Does anybody know what these are worth? I’m just going through my dads toolboxes and came across this.

 

HVAC is an acronym also found in the building industry. Heat, vent and air condition.

Super slick. My cobbled system would drive it nuts...

Another reason not to drive today, Jag or Jeep. HOT!!!

Circa 57, I lived and worked in CA" very hot Imperial Valley. My company car was a bare bones 57 Chevrolet six with three on the tree. But, fitted with an after market Mark IV under dash AC.
Engine cooling, marginal. AC operation abut the same, marginal.. Once put a chunk of ice in front of the radiatr, lots of space ther, it worked!!! cooer running cooool AC!!!
Carl

 

This is a old thread… but back when it was originally posted I decided I wanted a Pektron AC tester. I set up an eBay saved search and finally today there was one. About $200 shipped which is a ton of money until you tank up an XJ12 anyway it was funny because the eBay auction quoted this message board thread.

I love old dealer tools. Bought quite a few Churchill Zelenda tools from Coventry Foundation in past few years. Got a PDU, and a VCM, econocruise tester too. Always fun stuff!! Rarely ever used :/

 

JAgsandMGs you need to look again as we have just listed some rare tools. (ebay store #1 and 2). Have you seen the dealer tool boards?

 

Can someone scan that manual for me

I’ve taken a look at ebay auctions and trust me I’m sorely tempted! CoventryFoundation and CFColumbia are the two I’m following. This is your fool for sure.