The following is from my sister. I think her 80 is a fairly early 80 series unit, around 1992 or so. Since I know nothing about A/C, Canadian and all that, and nothing about gas engines, living in a place with none, I look to all you for advise.
What has her service staff left out? Is there any place in Chicago that knows LC A/C inside and out?
David,
I think I own the Landcruiser from hell. It has broken down 5 times in the past 7 months! This must be some sort of record. It all started with the A/C last summer (August) when the motor seized up and left me and the kids stranded. That was a new motor and compressor for the A/C. Then in September the catalytic converter was replaced. In December/January it was something else (getting to be a blur of car parts). Both of these times the engine light came on although the car was running fine. In March I took it to a new garage - a little local shop that is much cheaper and much slower. This was a regular oil change etc., but I asked what I should do about the A/C that still wasn't working. He recommended another little shop that only does heat and air (Cool Heat). I took it there in early April and they couldn't see anything wrong and simply recharged the freon. The next month I went out on a Saturday morning to drive the car and noticed blue/green liquid leaking from the front of the car. I concluded it was coolant from the radiator and drove it the 4 blocks to the local garage and left it. They checked on Monday and said the radiator looked good and the liquid was from the A/C condenser. Back to Cool Heat for a new condenser the next day. On Wednesday the engine light came on! Back to the garage Thursday. The error code was a valve sticking in the "middle of the engine". They got it working without replacing it (said sometimes this works). A week later (always on a Friday night) the engine light came on. Back to have the valve (actually 2) replaced. This took days because they had to take a fair bit of the engine apart (and they are very slow - but cheap). In June, the car started groaning as we turned corners and there was a slight vibration in the steering wheel. Back to the shop. This time it was the power steering - the section near the front bumper was rusted through. They had to remove the radiator to do this, so I asked if it looked like it was okay. It took them 3 days this time (Thursday - Monday). Got it back days before our trip to Europe. The A/C worked great most of the time since the last repair (May), but at time would simply shut off. The local shop said it must be a temperature switch in the A/C system - I asked about the radiator. Back from Europe 5 days and our usual Friday night - the car began to overheat! The gauge was climbing towards the top. I headed home (quickly), and again got it to the shop over the week-end. 300 miles this time between repairs! On Monday the mechanic said he was swamped and booking in cars 10 days out - I responded that with only 300 miles between repairs this barely qualifies as a new visit and he should consider it part of my last repair! He got my point and said he would look at it today (Wednesday). I am sure it needs a new radiator. I hope this fixes the A/C problem. I can't imagine what could go next (I'm sure I won't have to wait long to find out)!
What has her service staff left out? Is there any place in Chicago that knows LC A/C inside and out?
David,
I think I own the Landcruiser from hell. It has broken down 5 times in the past 7 months! This must be some sort of record. It all started with the A/C last summer (August) when the motor seized up and left me and the kids stranded. That was a new motor and compressor for the A/C. Then in September the catalytic converter was replaced. In December/January it was something else (getting to be a blur of car parts). Both of these times the engine light came on although the car was running fine. In March I took it to a new garage - a little local shop that is much cheaper and much slower. This was a regular oil change etc., but I asked what I should do about the A/C that still wasn't working. He recommended another little shop that only does heat and air (Cool Heat). I took it there in early April and they couldn't see anything wrong and simply recharged the freon. The next month I went out on a Saturday morning to drive the car and noticed blue/green liquid leaking from the front of the car. I concluded it was coolant from the radiator and drove it the 4 blocks to the local garage and left it. They checked on Monday and said the radiator looked good and the liquid was from the A/C condenser. Back to Cool Heat for a new condenser the next day. On Wednesday the engine light came on! Back to the garage Thursday. The error code was a valve sticking in the "middle of the engine". They got it working without replacing it (said sometimes this works). A week later (always on a Friday night) the engine light came on. Back to have the valve (actually 2) replaced. This took days because they had to take a fair bit of the engine apart (and they are very slow - but cheap). In June, the car started groaning as we turned corners and there was a slight vibration in the steering wheel. Back to the shop. This time it was the power steering - the section near the front bumper was rusted through. They had to remove the radiator to do this, so I asked if it looked like it was okay. It took them 3 days this time (Thursday - Monday). Got it back days before our trip to Europe. The A/C worked great most of the time since the last repair (May), but at time would simply shut off. The local shop said it must be a temperature switch in the A/C system - I asked about the radiator. Back from Europe 5 days and our usual Friday night - the car began to overheat! The gauge was climbing towards the top. I headed home (quickly), and again got it to the shop over the week-end. 300 miles this time between repairs! On Monday the mechanic said he was swamped and booking in cars 10 days out - I responded that with only 300 miles between repairs this barely qualifies as a new visit and he should consider it part of my last repair! He got my point and said he would look at it today (Wednesday). I am sure it needs a new radiator. I hope this fixes the A/C problem. I can't imagine what could go next (I'm sure I won't have to wait long to find out)!
(most will work for 
) 
