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When AC goes out...

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

This topic is in the MVS Volvo Repair Database » A/C Compressor Clutch Gap Fix
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itsdug
Posts: 20
Joined: 15 May 2008
Year and Model:
Location: Northern California

Volvo Repair Database

Post by itsdug »

that could be it. i always thought that was an odd set up. the owners manual mentioned the light being on though. hey if it blows cold air i'm happy.

thanks again,
Doug

itsdug
Posts: 20
Joined: 15 May 2008
Year and Model:
Location: Northern California

Post by itsdug »

Ozark Lee wrote:Are you sure you are actually turning it off? On the electronic climate control unit the A/C light illuminates in the Off position rather than the On position.

...Lee
that was exactly what was wrong. thanks.

i went for a 20 minute test drive and it blew cold air the whole time. i shut the car off to run into the post office but when i came out it just blew hot air. when i returned home i shut the car off for about 5 minutes and when i restarted it i had cold air again. any suggestions?

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

Measure the A/C clutch gap with a feeler gauge set. The gap should be under 0.020. If it is larger than that the A/C clutch needs to be reshimmed. There is the really correct way to do that and then there is a real easy ghetto way of doing it.

What are your pressure readings compressor on and compressor off? You could have actually overcharged the system as well which will make the compressor run hot and then the thermal cutout will disable it until it cools again.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

itsdug
Posts: 20
Joined: 15 May 2008
Year and Model:
Location: Northern California

Post by itsdug »

with a/c on gauge was reading about 41. probably not the correct way of doing it but i got it down to exactly 35. it was blowing cold air the entire time. i shut the car off for a couple of minutes then restarted and it was blowing warm air again. with the a/c turned off the gauge was in the red.

Ozark Lee
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14798
Joined: 7 September 2006
Year and Model: Many Volvos
Location: USA Midwest
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Post by Ozark Lee »

41 is high for a running pressure - 35 is in the ballpark depending on the ambient temperature.

Your next check is the clutch gap.

Here is the proper way to fix it - See N8-50's .pdf file:

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/Ac-Therm ... 76833.html

Here is the ghetto procedure:

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.ph ... opic=80181

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

itsdug
Posts: 20
Joined: 15 May 2008
Year and Model:
Location: Northern California

Post by itsdug »

thanks again. there's not much room to move but i think i fix it.

delagarzaeric
Posts: 1
Joined: 24 September 2009
Year and Model: 850 GLT 1997
Location: Florida

Post by delagarzaeric »

I'm trying to recharge my a/c but the hose will not lock on the refill fitting. Anyone else have this problem?

Ozark Lee
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14798
Joined: 7 September 2006
Year and Model: Many Volvos
Location: USA Midwest
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Post by Ozark Lee »

Welcome to MVS,

It is more of a hose fitting problem than a Volvo problem but yes. Pull back very hard on the female fitting collar, press the connector hard onto the male connector, and you should be able to get it to seat. You will feel the snap upon releasing the collar when it is correct.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

arsenal6
Posts: 13
Joined: 3 June 2009
Year and Model: volvo 850
Location: Canada

Post by arsenal6 »

what brand is good for r134 or is it a generic type?

Ozark Lee
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14798
Joined: 7 September 2006
Year and Model: Many Volvos
Location: USA Midwest
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 75 times

Post by Ozark Lee »

It is all the same. I just buy the cheapest house brand stuff I can find from Advance or O'Reilly.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

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