I've now relocated to Las Vegas, and in the brutal heat of the summer, the AC just isn't up to the task. It operates - air blows strong & cold out of all vents - but it is just swamped by 115 degree F / 46 degree C sunlight with no shade.

My jag is a 1998 XJ8L.

I've read some information that perhaps it makes sense to have my AC serviced here in Las Vegas -- and that it can be tuned for local weather conditions (e.g., single digit humidity). I'm not sure this is information is accurate, however.

Does the Jaguar AC need the attention of a Jaguar-knowledgeable specialist such as someone at the dealership, or can any reputable automotive AC shop handle it?

Is it possible to "upsize" the AC's cooling capacity?

Thanks for any information or insight.

 

It can be serviced by any reputable A/C service guy. I recharged the service in my S-Type the other day and it is still working. Fancy that! My 99 xk8 seems to keep us cool in the 95 to 100 temperature in our area in the past month. Be sure they know how to service A/C!

 

Get a cheap IR non contact thermometer (places like Harbor Freight have them for under $20) and look at the air temp down inside the registers with fan on full, AC set to recirculate and temp set all the way down. Give the air temp a few minutes to reach minimum. Make sure to aim the thermometer between the slats on the register so you're looking down inside (you're actually looking at the plastic duct temp). Move it around a bit to find the minima. It should be down in the mid 30's (F). If it's much higher you might need to add some freon.

There's no 'tuning' available in the AC system... just help it work at its highest efficiency by having the proper amount of freon and lubricant, keeping the condensor and evaporator clean and making sure the fans work correctly.

 

And the computer managed idle rpm is so low that the AC compressor just doesn't work well there. When measuring the air temp make sure you have the engine at 1500 rpm or so.

There is an AC chart on the XK8/R FAQ sticky that addresses the ambient temp, humidity and air temp.

 

Suggest you go to a reputable AC shop. With the ambient temp at 110 degrees the gauge readings should be in the region of : Low side 50-55 psi and High side 340 to 345 psi. With the manufacturers amount of R134a in the system these pressures should be achieved and your AC should work 100%. If they don't put the full amount of refrigerant in the system it will not work 100%. In such high ambient temps it may be advisable to add 5% to the recommended fill quantity, this is quite acceptable but no more than 5%.

 

I was going to say...my '99 XJ8 is in Vegas too, and I often have to turn the AC down in the car because my hands get numb.

 

Its good to get the AC system recharged every two years or so. This is to keep the system running well, and also to clean any bacteria that can develop within out. I never have my AC/Climate switched off so this is something I tend to monitor. S.

 

Looks like you may need a recharge. I just got back from a four day trip to Vegas in my 98 VDP. It took about 3 to 5 minutes for the a/c to circulate through the car, but once cooled it was cold and had to turn down the blower to the first or second setting driving at high noon.

 

I have a 2002 VDP and live in Phoenix. I made sure to drive the VDP on those 116 days. Like everyone else mine has year after year had the coldest air I have ever had in a vehicle. It is probably a charge. It condenses so much you can get a musty smell after a while. Ozium in the external intake will kill it in a heart beat.