New here and having problems with ac would love some help

mtngrl26 · Post by **mtngrl26** » 07 Jun 2011, 18:17

Hi there new to this forum but so glad I found it, now i dont feel so alone in all the issues that arise with these cars. I believe my model is a 2000 s80 might be a 2001 not positive. The issue at hand is the ac was blowing warm air my boyfriend bought the car last summer and said it started to do this near the end of the summer and thought it just needed a charge. I brought it to garage today and had them do a full charge they said it only needed i think .5 gal? can? anyways I thought maybe it just needed time to cycle through or something and surely would start to cool off soon but have been driving all day it is 100 outside and the car temp on dash has not gone below 108 so much fun driving in that heat

I did notice in the past few weeks as the temperture outside has risen that the car when i park to go into store for a few minutes come back out it wont start, have to wait a few minutes play with lock on door then will start back up.

What is going on? Just spent over 100 to get this charged and would love to have it actually work. Im new to volvos but have worked on all my older cars so I learn quickly, I am a chick but I have changed a master cylinder just by reading, heater core, breaks I do all my own oil changes etc... so I have learned a little but am still pretty dense to most of it. Especially volvos its a different world under that hood

Is this something I can fix myself? Is it going to cost me a fourtune? I thought maybe it could be the ac compressor checked some junk yards found one for 90$ Im at a loss, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance

mtngrl26 · Post by **mtngrl26** » 07 Jun 2011, 21:54

I see ppl are viewing my post but no one is responding? any advice at all would be amazing, just want to know where to start.....thought everyone seemed helpful on here .... suppose ill give it another day before I download instructions to change out the compressor on my own?????? gotta do something cant drive it in this heat for long. My job requires me to be on the road with my disabled clients and I cant allow them to be subjected to that heat. I really would love anything even if its just a reference of who to ask,.....

waiting I suppose not so patiently :lol) sorry so for being so anxious....

Post by **yuckuJackD** » 08 Jun 2011, 06:53

Make some checks:
1. When the AC is ON you should hear a knock from time to time. That knock is when the compressors clutch works.
2. The pipe which goes into the passanger compartment should be cold. Very cold!

If those two things are OK, then go ahead inspecting where the cold stops...
Try something else. Set the temperature to 18 (minimum); fan to max and the air only to the windshield. Stop the radio before that, close all the windows and try to hear whether the motors for changing the airflow are working...
Otherwise you should to check that visually, by disassembling the glove compartment.

Special thing in VOLVO's is that the radiator is allays hot. And the system regulates whether the hot air should be used or not. In case of mechanic problem with the regulator for the hot air (if it remains open) the cold air comming from the compressor becomes hot, too.

urrrr sorry for my english. In case you need some diagrams from VADIS just ask.
Hope this will help you.

mtngrl26 · Post by **mtngrl26** » 08 Jun 2011, 18:08

thank you very much is very helpful, at least something to check and I have a feeling that it might be the issue. I did do some digging and found other posts about the clutch on compressor possibly needing to be shimmied as it can gap and cause the same issues so up on the tire ramps tomorrow to check it out. Also got ahold of a computer ran the diagnostics, not sure where to go from here that info it read that I had a P0740tourque converter clutch sloenoid circut. Any ideas on what Im doing with that message? Car wouldnt start twice today, after sitting for about 5min and when fan stopped running it would start back up. Im at a loss but I think I burnt my shins driving today lol.

If you could send diagrams to help would be awesome, very much a visual learner. Appreciate your help

Beachbum · Post by **Beachbum** » 09 Jun 2011, 10:15

Check and see if your AC compressor is cycling on and off. With the AC turned on to max cold and the fan turned to high, engine idling, open the hood and look at it. You should see the AC clutch on the compressor engage and disengage. You can see it easily from above. When the clutch engages, the compressor will turn. When the clutch disengages, the compressor stops turning. On a very hot day like you have it can engage/disengage very quickly, as short as every 10 seconds or so.

If the compressor is not turning on at all (clutch does not engage so it does not spin) then that explains why you have no AC. But something as obvious as this should have been noticed at the shop where you just had the AC charged.

The no start condition could be related to this, especially since you say that the car starts when the fan stops. I would not, however, replace anything (compressor, shims on clutch, etc.) until it has been accurately diagnosed.

One other thing you could try -- disconnect the battery and reconnect it. This wipes out the codes stored in the computer and "resets" everything. The right way to disconnect/reconnect the battery is below:

1. Make sure car has been off with key removed for at least 5 minutes.
2. Disconnect negative battery cable. Wait a few minutes.
3. BEFORE reconnecting the cable, put key in ignition and turn it to position 2 (marked "II" on the switch). Now reconnect the cable.
4. Now lock/unlock the driver's door with your key 3 times. This resets the UEM (Upper Electronic Module) that controls your locks, interior lights, and sunroof. (Hint for future: If any of those things ever stop working, do the 3x lock/unlock thing. Chances are it will fix it).
5. See what happens!

If No Start/No AC condition still happens, then I would consult a good independent Volvo shop, or a dealer. Good luck.

Beachbum

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 10 Jun 2011, 11:09

So this compressor "cycling" is normal? I always thought it was a bad thing yet both my Volvos do it! Well thats good news...

ssteen25 · Post by **ssteen25** » 10 Jun 2011, 23:52

The shop should have told you about the problem before the car left. You could have a restriction in the office tube trash in your condenser or bad evap. I have an 99 s80 that freezes up and cuts out but gauges show normal operating pressures. If the comp is running have gauges put on it to see what internal system is doing before spending alot of money on compressor ect you might fing that a simple orfice tube was the problem the hole time then the cost is alot less then comp replacement