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Is the AC fried on this Volvo 850?

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

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rspi
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Is the AC fried on this Volvo 850?

Post by rspi »

I was looking at the AC on a '95 850. The AC just quit yesterday. Seems to have freon in the system but the compressor will not kick on. I tried bumping the the front of the compressor, serving it a little, and even jumped the low pressure switch connector at the wire plug near the firewall. No action at all. It is MCC.

Any suggestions?
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
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Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

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Post by jblackburn »

What's the low-side pressure with compressor not running?

Could be a bad relay, or it may just need the compressor shimmed.
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rspi
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Post by rspi »

My gauge is wacky but no freon would go in.

The clutch gap seemed real close. Likely good. I'm going to check for power at the low pressure switch.

I checked several relays, swapped a few around and back.
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

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Post by Ozark Lee »

Hot wire the compressor wire to the + battery terminal and see if it kicks on then. If not, check the clutch wire for resistance to ground, if it reads an open circuit the compressor clutch is fried.

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Post by rspi »

Thanks guys.

I know of 2 wires coming off the compressor, the one in the white sleeve and the other smaller one. Are you saying that I should put 12v on the one in the white sleeve?

How do I check the clutch wire for resistance? Is that the small wire or the one in the white sleeve? Should the other wire be connected to it's plug?
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

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Post by abscate »

Robert - one wire is a temp sensor and will end at a pot stuck somewhere on the AC compressor. The other wire will disappear into the guts of the compressor at the clutch. Thats the one to put 12 volts on. I would make up a fused (30Amp) test wire to do this in case you short it while testing. You can label it VOLVO AC CLUTCH TEST TOOL and sell it on ebay for 35 USD when done.
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Post by northernlights »

rspi wrote:My gauge is wacky but no freon would go in.

The clutch gap seemed real close. Likely good. I'm going to check for power at the low pressure switch.

I checked several relays, swapped a few around and back.
The high pressure switch (near the dryer) will also keep the clutch from engaging. I don't know if that is normally open or closed.

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Post by rspi »

I guess I can compare it to my car side by side since they are both '95's.
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

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