What my P80's did today to drive me more nuts...!

Post by **scot850** » 29 May 2017, 16:44

Well, the good old PITA'R' is (whisper this) actually running really quite well now for the first time in a long time. Even the suspension isn't as groany as usual so it was nice to run for the first time in a long time. Pretty quiet on the summer tires and a nice induction type noise when floored. It could only last for a short time. Weather has suddenly gotten hotter here for May (25C) and due to the altitude it feels warmer. Switched the A/C on to cool down and.......NOTHING but hot air. Only latitude I give the car is that when I replaced the A/C compressor and drier about 4 years/5000 miles ago I had it re-filled by my local repair shop. But in fairness it has hardly been used as for at least 2 of the summers the car was in bits so the system may have been used 4 or 5 times at most. No flashing A/C lights just nothing but hot air. I'm not sure I even hear the compressor cycling. I've ordered a new Schraeder valve for the R and the project (about $6/ea US) and will replace them both before re-filling the systems and hope the evaporators are good. At least the project V70 base had pressure in the system when bought so I am hoping the evaporator is good in that at least.

Now the other thing is not actually the 'project' cars fault. It is purely down to the never ending saga of endless damage the PO has inflicted on the poor car. I have just set the front bumper on stands to repair the 2 splits in the bottom lip by the fog lights. To do the repairs I had to remove the fog-lights and brackets. Never realised Volvo use Robertson wood screws to mount the bottom bracket point to the bumper!!!?

The RH fog light needless to say has a badly bent bracket and 2/3 of the mounting are broken out of the back of the light unit and there is a small hole in the back of the light unit. I would say un-believable, but after the badly damaged ignition key antenna ring issue, I am way past being surprised. Naturally I decided not to buy the 2 fog light lenses that were for sale last week as I didn't need them then! Bugger....! So repairs it will be. I'll get the good old JB Weld out and get to work on the fog-light fixes and use the plastic bumper repair kit I bought to fix the 2 splits in the bumper.

Ah, the never ending joys.....

The other salt in wounds is that I figures out the new winter tires I have on the project are too narrow to transfer off the rusty Volvo steel wheels onto any of the spare 15" alloys I have as they are 6.5 or 6J wide and the recommender max for 185mm wide tires is 5.5J.

Neil.

jcdillin · Post by **jcdillin** » 30 May 2017, 17:39

I just had this same problem on my 00 V70, the A/C clutch needed to have shims removed in order to engage again. Might be worth looking at.

Post by **JimBee** » 30 May 2017, 20:33

jcdillin wrote: ↑30 May 2017, 17:39 I just had this same problem on my 00 V70, the A/C clutch needed to have shims removed in order to engage again. Might be worth looking at.

jcdillon:

Can you describe how you removed the clutch to remove the shims?

Post by **scot850** » 30 May 2017, 23:31

Removing shims to get it to work? This was a new compressor about 4 years ago and it has probably not ben used in anger other than cold weather days when defrost is used. I'm hoping it is just out of gas and needs a re-fill and new valve. I can't get it in until next Tuesday and we will see what happens then!

Thanks for the help. Appreciated.

Neil.

Post by **Clemens** » 31 May 2017, 14:53

To check if it is low on gas you can bridbe the two connectors of the pressure sensor by the firewall (disconnect wire from sensor, Bridge connectors with a wire with the car running and A/C switch on). If the compressor starts cycling, then you are low on charge.

I guess you already know that, but just in case it helps you.

jcdillin · Post by **jcdillin** » 31 May 2017, 16:01

JimBee wrote: ↑30 May 2017, 20:33
jcdillin wrote: ↑30 May 2017, 17:39 I just had this same problem on my 00 V70, the A/C clutch needed to have shims removed in order to engage again. Might be worth looking at.
jcdillon:

Can you describe how you removed the clutch to remove the shims?

Lots of beer and cussing....

This document covers it.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/downl ... AC-Fix.pdf

Post by **sleddriver** » 31 May 2017, 21:32

Neil, it's the poor, pathetic PO's perpetual PITA policy bitting you!

Post by **scot850** » 31 May 2017, 23:07

It has bitten me, beat me soundly with a piece of 2" x 4", dragged me over hot coals and poked me in the eyes with sharp sticks!!!!

No more P80's for me after these 2 and also the previous 2 (97 850 NA base and 98 V70XC). They have clearly gotten to the age where they need to be at PnP (the V70XC made it to PnP after the last owner I sold it to beat it to death), or should be taken there immediately. The poor vehicles have got to the point where few owners actually take care of them around here or bother to service or repair them. They are just running them until they die. Time to move onto newer vehicles!

Neil.

Post by **sleddriver** » 01 Jun 2017, 11:52

Yep...you can both go broke and insane trying to fix 'stupid' PO's mistakes.

Teddy1975 · Post by **Teddy1975** » 01 Jun 2017, 13:14

Amen, sleddriver!