Intermittend AC - 2002 S60 2.4T AWD 210K km

Post by **kdaide** » 19 May 2010, 19:11

My 2002 S60's AC is blowing cool air intermittently. When first starting the car, the air is nice and cool but after some time, expecailly on a hot day, the air starts blowing warm. There is not difference in the temperature in the air with the AC is on or OFF. Turning the air completly off for a period of time and then restarting seems to sometimes bring back the cool air.

Is this a compressor problem? Is there an easy way to determine if the compressor is kicking on/off when it is suppose to?

Thanks, Kevin

2006 S60 2.4T AWD 210,000 kms

otis44 · Post by **otis44** » 19 May 2010, 21:04

First off, I know very little about ac systems or issues. I've owned a couple of Gmc Yukons that had similar issues, would blow cold sometimes, hot others and seemed to get worse as the temp. got warmer. These vehicles had a problem with the low pressure switch, replacing it solved the problem. The pressure sensor located on the drier on these cars does the same thing as the switch on the GM vehicles I assume. Too little freon in the system will cause the car to act this way as will too much freon in the system. Don't buy the cans at Wal-Mart and try to charge it, you'll more than likely do more harm than good. My advice would be to find an independent shop that is competent in ac repair and let them at least diagnose it. You'll spend a little more up front but usually less in the long run.

If you're set on self diagnosis you can easily verify if the compressor is working as it should.Unplug the connector on the pressure sensor (located underneath the right front of the car, connects to the top of the drier and mounted on the condenser) and take a paper clip or similar and insert it into both sides of the electrical connector. With the ac on the compressor should kick on and run. This would give you a starting point, but once again I've found it's usually cheaper in the long run to pay someone with the proper tools and equipment to deal with these things. Replacing parts blindly gets costly in a hurry.

cmblackburn · Post by **cmblackburn** » 19 May 2010, 21:09

are you hearing any clicking while you have the A/C on? Sounds to me like the A/C clutch is possibly slipping----but more than likely the car is just low on freon, which causes the same symptoms.