156 A/C - basic questions

[poohbah]

Folks, does anyone have a basic diagram showing where the A/C receiver/dryer for a V6 156 is located?

In fact does anyone have an engine bay diagram showing where all the AC components are?

And how hard/easy is the dryer to get to?

(I'm not looking to remove it myself, just doing some basic research)

[bazzbazz]

Need your VIN number to check.

[poohbah]

Cheers Bazz.

ZAR93200001082803

I'm trying some amateur sleuthing to work out why AC not working. Was regassed before last summer and worked okay, but no longer blowing cold. I can hear clutch engaging.

[Citroënbender]

Does the fat refrigerant pipe from firewall to compressor get (literally) icy cold when the AC clutch is on?

[poohbah]

No idea, will try it when I get home. But if you have AC diagram identifying everthing, that would help. Can't even see the compressor from above. The donk pretty much fills the space!

[poohbah]

If you mean the pipe circled, the answer is a big fat No. Just checked and was warm/hot with AC on.

Supplementary question - should the nozzle in the circle have a cap?

[Citroënbender]

Yes, a low pressure 134A cap is missing. They're generic.

Warm pipe means it's not pumping. Is the compressor clutch way, way too hot to touch?

[poohbah]

No idea CB - I can't even see the compressor from above and there's no room to get my arm in and under - maybe it's accessible from underneath?

[bazzbazz]

Clutch will still engage if the system is low on gas and not cooling properly, the system has to get near empty before the pressure switch will inhibit the system.

The receiver/drier should be found under the drivers side front guard forward of the wheel. Its the aluminium cylinder about the size of a 600ml coke bottle.

[poohbah]

Cheers Bazz,

I guess I should get it pressure checked first then - but really shouldn't need another regas after only 12-18 months should it?

[poohbah]

Just ducked into the work carpark for another squizz. Thanks Bazz - have now located the receiver/dryer.

As for the compressor, is the compressor pulley and clutch plate the one I can just see protruding slightly directly beneath the cambelt cover (I can just see the tops of the bolts that hold the plate on)?

If so, then the clutch plate seems to be spinning while engine is running whether the AC is switched on or not.

Yet I can still hear it click when I turn the AC on or off.

[Citroënbender]

Bazz - Do the sixes chafe through a condenser hose like the fours?

[poohbah]

Scratch my last observation. I managed to find a pic of an exposed V6. I have circled the pulley I can actually see spinning - I gather its an idler? The compressor is obviously lower down and sits beneath it, where I can't see it from above.

[Citroënbender]

I think I accidentally reported your post, apologies. 

Gas should stay in a healthy system for years with regular use. Barring an accident the most likely things are compressor air gap excessive, hose/tube damage or possibly a failed displacement control valve in the compressor if it's an SD7V16 or similar.

[poohbah]

ha - the naked V6 pic is a bit pornographic....

Is the displacement control valve mechanical or electrical - and can it be replaced on its own, or does it mean whole compressor is cactus?