Webasto Air Conditioner

[Alibi27]

I have a 2013 Ranger Tug, Hull FMLT2723B313, Alibi
Rarely use the AC unit in Maine. Turned on once this summer.
Seawater pumped fine. Got cooling air. Ran 5 minutes, then stopped.
Code 3 Compressor Low Pressure error came on.
Was told this indicated indicated unit needed to have refrigerant gas added.
Question:
How best for technician to access unit to add gas.
Take out microwave ?
Through cool air grill ?
Through return air grill. This is very tight as at end of aft berth area.?
Other ?
It is not apparently obvious how best to get at the unit.
Thanks
Dick Keith

 

[Matty]

Had the same code on mine. Technically you want to be sure there is not a leak in addition to needing refrigerant. Otherwise it will just leak out again and cost more money. In my case they had to pull it out by removing microwave, disconnecting wiring and cold air hose. Took about 45 minutes to remove. Couple bolts and out it came. I had a leak (rust) that was not repairable and unit was replaced.

Only other way i see of doing it is to cut a hole under seat for access. But I would go that route only if tech said he could recharge it.

Other advice I was given was to be sure there was not an air lock situation with water pump. It would prevent pump from coming on and shut down system to prevent damage. You can flush water through with a hose to try and remove air. I tried that a few times but turned out to be as stated above. Might be worth a try.

 

[Matty]

By the way - the Webasto folks I reached by the 800 number were very helpful. I was going to give you FL info on the Webasto site as I saw your St Augustine address but see you are up in Maine. If you ever have it in FL the folks in the Stuart office were great to deal with and they travel the state.

I went directly to Webasto as the two authorized dealers in my area would not even return a call.

 

[Todd2]

One good (the best?) access point I've found to the 2017 R-27 A/C unit is by removing the 'headboard' wall in the v-berth on the port side. The v-berth seat cushions simply need to be lifted out on that side and then the back cushion just slips upward off of 'hooks' along the back. Then four screws (under decorative caps) need to be removed. Bowing the panel may be needed to carefully wiggle it out from under the backside of the dash - it's tight (a back cushion 'hook' may need to be removed also). If you have a vent in the v-berth, the duct will need to be removed from the backside. Once the wall panel is removed, the A/C unit is easily accessible while crouched in the v-berth. Some electrical stuff may also need to be moved from the top of the A/C unit to gain access to charge the unit. I think there may even be enough room to remove the unit from here.

The cold air vent only gains access to the squirrel wheel blower- not of much/any use.

Access to the A/C through the cave can be obtained by removing the wall between the sleeping compartment and the A/C compartment by removing several screws. I have a small 8" by 10" louvered vent in that wall (and the upper port corner of the wall is cut out), but the louver does NOT have any filter behind it (more on that later). I don't see much useable access through the vent since it only butts right up to the side of the unit - might as well just remove the entire wall. I'm not sure how much a tech would like working from the cave side, though. He better not be claustrophobic! I can't even turn over with the mattress in there while laying down.

I looked at the microwave from the cave side and saw that it sits in a wooden box with a 6" by 12" hole cut out of the back. The wall between the cave and the A/C unit would still have to be removed for access through the microwave opening, and it would still be a long reach. I don't recommend it at all. There is no way the A/C unit could fit through that hole. It could possibly be dragged out along the cave floor (on it's side?), though. I believe the cave (not microwave) could also be a viable access point for recharging.

OK can someone please describe (with measurements and/or pics) the return air filter placement I keep hearing about. I have not seen one and I've been all over this A/C system, from one end to the other, for the past two years trying to get it to work properly. The last thing I need to do to it, now, is clog up the evaporator coil with dust. THANKS! Any help would be much appreciated.

Todd

P.S. I have accurately described MY set up. Ranger has made changes over the model years and YOUR set up may be somewhat different. But I hope this is still of some use to everyone.