V70 Aircon top up

tonyfella · Post by **tonyfella** » 08 Jul 2010, 08:19

Hi all, firstly this is my first post - if I've committed a mortal sin somewhere please be gentle with me!
I have a year 2000 V70 2.4T (I know this part of the forum is for year 2001 - 2010 but my car is a late 2000 and is definitely the P2 (facelift) model. I have an aircon kit (tube, adapter, pressure gauge and can of R-134a) and set out to give the system 'a bit of a boost' as I have done in the past to my year 2000 V40(also the 2001 facelift model) but find that the only valve I can find is the one just under the bonnet near the driver's side headlight and my adapter does not fit the valve. Have I found the high pressure valve or am I missing something fundamental with regard to topping up a V70 as opposed to a V40? Any help would be most welcome.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 08 Jul 2010, 12:50

I am having the same issue with my 04 S60R. I was told it was a half of a pound low on freon and wanted to add a half a pound but to my surprise, the only port I could find was the one that is to big for the connector. If anyone can chimp in here, please do.

Also, sorry to thread jack.

bocephus · Post by **bocephus** » 08 Jul 2010, 14:04

The port near the radiator is the high-pressure valve; while this is the valve that Volvo recommends using for a/c maintenance, it should NOT be accessed by a home mechanic (high pressure is what it sounds like, which can be dangerous). The diy home kits all work on the low pressure valve, which on my '01 V70, at least, is nestled in between the side of the engine block and the power steering/coolant reservoirs. While you'll probably be fine if you re-fill it yourself through the low-pressure valve, I've heard from lots of people that the Volvo a/c systems are particularly finicky about condensation and the like, and that it really is best to have a proper drain and fill performed by a dealer. I know that costs a lot more money, but the problem with those diy a/c kits is that they can only tell you the pressure of the refrigerant, and not the actual amount of refrigerant that's in your system.

tonyfella · Post by **tonyfella** » 08 Jul 2010, 23:44

Thanks bocephus, I'll have a look later for the low pressure valve in the area you have indicated. I do agree that the diy kits only work on the pressure of the gas and not the quantity of gas in the system. However, when I have 'topped up' my V40 with my diy kit I've been OK - there again I've been careful not to over do it, just letting the can put it's charge in without warming it or turning it upside down. Ah, the joys of motoring............thanks again for your input.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 09 Jul 2010, 11:17

Thanks for the info, it is a big help. I need a half of a pound of freon in my car so I just going to put that amount in and leave it alone.