AC: passenger side vents warm on XC70

Mark B Fowler · Post by **Mark B Fowler** » 25 May 2012, 05:59

My wife's 2002 XC70 has recently developed this terrible quirk, where the air conditioning is not flowing through the passenger side vents. The rest of the vents in the front of the car are ice cold, but you can hear this strange "wheeze" every minute or so from the inside of the dash area, as if a pneumatic solenoid is trying to open or close a flap. The air from the passenger side feels like ambient outside temperature air... I have not checked if all the vents in the back of the car are doing the same thing. Anyone else have this happen to them? If you crank the temperature knob for the passenger side to "hot" the heat flows out through the vents, but it seems it will not flow cold air from the air conditioner. The car is in super shape, with only 66k on the clock, and no other issues (so far). Thoughts or suggestions would be indeed helpful.

Post by **vjaneczko** » 01 Jun 2012, 14:10

Welcome to the forum!

Sounds like it may be the damper motor or the articulating arm it's connected to. Might have to pull the glovebox to get a good look at it.

Tonyx · Post by **Tonyx** » 02 Jun 2012, 18:54

Doesn't the A/C evaporator turns cold from left to right(driver side to pass side)? Driver side air get's first dibs on the cold evap core and not much cold is left for the air directed to pass side.

If this is true, then it points to low charge in the A/C system.

Mark B Fowler · Post by **Mark B Fowler** » 07 Jun 2012, 18:00

Thank you for the advice gentlemen... I climbed into the rear of the car, and the passenger side rear vents are also quite warm. Considering it seems to be getting a bit more noticeable as time goes on, I am inclined to think it is a low charge issue. If it was a strict mechanical or electrical issue, I think it would be immediate and lasting. That being said, I could charge the A/C at home... I purchased a kit from a local auto parts store several years ago for our previous car. Anyone know the location of the charge port on this rig? Even if the condition of the charge is not the culprit, $20.00 of R134A is cheaper than a diagnostic visit to the Volvo shop for something a bit over my head!

Post by **MoVolvos** » 07 Jun 2012, 18:46

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It may or may not be low on Refrigerant. Is the driver's side front and rear vents both cold and what is the Temp coming out of the cold Vents? Check the pressure of the system before you add using a Pressure Temp Chart for R134a.

Click "View this part on the vehicle diagram" below any parts in the link. The Low Side Charging Port/Valve should be under Cap #22 in the Diagram. Follow Instructions on the can!!!! Search Youtube for Manufacturer instructions on adding refrigerant for further help.

http://eeuroparts.com/Parts/PartResult. ... egory=1000

Blessings,
BKM
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tatonka12345 · Post by **tatonka12345** » 07 Jun 2012, 22:40

I ran into the same problem as the OP this spring/summer. The driver's side was blowing cold air at about 40 degrees while the passenger side was blowing about 15 degrees warmer. Added about a quarter can of r134a and solved my problem. The low side port on my 2002 s60 (non-turbo) is under the power steering fluid reservoir which is on the passenger side frame rail. Make sure to have the car running and the AC on max for a few minutes before checking the level and/or adding refrigerant. You also don't want to add too much refrigerant either.