with ac on feels like i am dragging a safe

nyvolvoguy850 · Post by **nyvolvoguy850** » 15 Jun 2011, 22:26

hello, my 97 850 n/a with 176k takes a noticeable performance hit with the ac on, i have heard of this but did not expect to feel it so much on a car that has good power. is this normal? perhaps a tune up is in order? i have had the car for 7K and have not
done any plugs wires etc. trying to catch up on the broken and un maintained items first

is the car running poorly and i don't know it?
no funny sound smoke or smell, cel came on, i pulled code for air pump
she always starts and never stalls 0-60 is good 60-90 good, smooth as glass and fun to drive
i can tell this car was once or has the potential to be an animal, non turbo aside.

comments appreciated
thank you

Post by **jblackburn** » 15 Jun 2011, 22:35

I actually put up the same question myself just a few weeks ago. Apparently the consensus is that they all do - I live in a very hilly town, and I hattteeee driving my car around town with the A/C running.

I get used to it, and then forget what it's like to drive without it on and I'm surprised at how much fun it is again

One difference I notice with the T5 is that running premium DEFINITELY helps with the power loss on extremely hot days.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 15 Jun 2011, 22:36

My N/A cars also have a "noticeable" decrease in performance with the A/C on and they have been through stage zero. There are hills that come off of a tight corner where I need to downshift to 4th from 5th to keep things from bogging down in the summer with the A/C on that I can just take at 5th in the winter without the A/C.

I wouldn't call it "dragging around a safe" but then again the only N/A I drive has a stick. My son has an N/A with an automatic but I really have never driven it more than a few blocks. The other 2 are turbos and they really don't care.

...Lee

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 15 Jun 2011, 22:59

I actually had a slightly worrisome experience with the AC today. When I started using it, I got the "dragging a safe" feeling more than I had ever had. Not only that, but it felt as if the engine was missing a beat every 3-4 seconds. RPM stayed the same, and boost gauge remained fairly constant, but it felt like the same feeling as cruise control disengaging for a split second, then catching back up.

I've never had it do that before, and then a little later it seemed to stop and smooth out again.

I'm a little worried about this... could this be a sign of compressor going out or something?

Post by **IVIUSTANG** » 15 Jun 2011, 23:04

I refuse to run my car with the A/C on unless it's 110F+ for that very reason

My car is reasonably fast under 3000k RPM with no A/C, but it sure takes alot more RPM to get the same speed with A/C on.

- Jesse

nyvolvoguy850 · Post by **nyvolvoguy850** » 15 Jun 2011, 23:12

i think its the heat, as i posted earlier i am missing the radiator shroud to lower airbox hose,it did not come with the car ?

lol

so i am pulling in hotter air

thank you

nyvolvoguy850 · Post by **nyvolvoguy850** » 15 Jun 2011, 23:22

to touch on edward's post. i have just recently charged the compressor with the r134, ac cold and holding. do not know if it related at all. perhaps a dragging compressor?
my ac works great so far and no noticeable noises or short cycles
who knows

thank you

CAvolvoSD · Post by **CAvolvoSD** » 15 Jun 2011, 23:59

This car is not supposed to be like that! It used to be like that over the last few years but after I brought it in for service at the dealer to get ready for the 140K service, it runs fine now and it doesn't have the short cycles any more. It runs almost like 12 years ago when I bought it.

Post by **jblackburn** » 16 Jun 2011, 06:51

i think its the heat, as i posted earlier i am missing the radiator shroud to lower airbox hose,it did not come with the car ? lol

Make a new one!
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... .php?t=501

At the same time, make sure your airbox thermostat isn't jammed (most 850's are).

Ed, maybe your freon level's getting low. Sounds like the compressor is clicking in and out while driving (it does normally, but usually not that often).

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 16 Jun 2011, 06:57

That's what I was thinking. It even was doing it on long downgrades. I'd just be coasting and even then I'd feel it kind of lurch a little... and it seemed like I wasn't coasting as smoothly. That time, with no RPM from the accelerator (my foot), I could tell they were moving a bit every time I felt it. I don't know why I didn't think of that, but definitely sounds like compressor is cycling.

I wonder if I need to also shim the clutch?

The air never got warm or anything though, it was perfect. These AC systems in our cars are really mind-boggling...