Clean this sensor if you have not

Post by **June** » 23 Jan 2018, 07:13

I was reading a thread on here where someone mentioned this sensor may need to be cleaned. Sure enough mine was full of fluffy stuff. Now for years my car only seemed to blow ice cold air out if the vents only on the hottest day like 100°, even set all the way to cold. Yesterday the outside temp reached 80° and even as the day cooled in the evening the vent temp stayed ice cold without the constant sound of the electric doors of the climate system changing position like they were hunting. How this sensor could cause such a profound effect, I can't say.

In the pic the red area is fluff I missed, green is the sensor area. June

Post by **matthew1** » 23 Jan 2018, 11:35

June, this is a good reminder.

I made your account MVS Contributor rank.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 23 Jan 2018, 11:51

To anyone stumbling across this thread, be aware this sensor is considered fragile. Preferred method to clear it would be alternating between light/low pressure compressed air and suction from a vacuum hose. If you stick anything through those holes be extremely careful to pick away at the fluff that seems to accumulate there while not exerting pressure on the sensor element itself.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 23 Jan 2018, 12:15

The best way would be to take the AC control panel out (it's quite easy) and cleaning it from behind. There's a small fan in the rear moving air across the sensor. There's more room to clean carefully from there.

Post by **June** » 23 Jan 2018, 13:40

I used the vacuum cleaner 1/2 at a time avoiding the center using the crevice attachment alternating one side than the other until all the visible fluff was gone. More has shown up from behind so my sensor was plugged good. June

Post by **mrbrian200** » 23 Jan 2018, 18:31

Wasn't aware about there being a fan there, out of curiosity I looked it up....

Eek Gads that little plastic fan behind there is $180.00. Just push me in front of a train why dontcha.
P/N 8691666

Post by **June** » 23 Jan 2018, 20:06

mrbrian200 wrote: ↑23 Jan 2018, 18:31 Wasn't aware about there being a fan there, out of curiosity I looked it up....

Eek Gads that little plastic fan behind there is $180.00. Just push me in front of a train why dontcha.
P/N 8691666

That's Volvo for you, they think of everything! June

Post by **June** » 19 Sep 2019, 17:03

June wrote: ↑23 Jan 2018, 07:13 I was reading a thread on here where someone mentioned this sensor may need to be cleaned. Sure enough mine was full of fluffy stuff. Now for years my car only seemed to blow ice cold air out if the vents only on the hottest day like 100°, even set all the way to cold. Yesterday the outside temp reached 80° and even as the day cooled in the evening the vent temp stayed ice cold without the constant sound of the electric doors of the climate system changing position like they were hunting. How this sensor could cause such a profound effect, I can't say.

In the pic the red area is fluff I missed, green is the sensor area. June

Just a reminder to clean this sensor! Lately my A/C has not been cooling down right unless it's 100° outside. Then I thought about this sensor. I could not believe how much lint came out. I used a vacuum cleaner again and huge chunks came from deep inside. Now the A/C is back to normal again. So Jan 2018 to today it cloged again. June

Cees Klumper · Post by **Cees Klumper** » 21 Sep 2019, 09:05

That's quick, I don't think I ever cleaned the one in our 2002 one and the A/C has been operating fine the 5 times or so a year we turn it on. Perhaps that fan only comes on when the A/C is turned on, so that would explain difference in cleaning frequency need. I'll have a look at it.

Post by **ndphotonl** » 25 Sep 2019, 09:48

Good tip, to clean this sensor. Please note that runs for a little while, even if you have shut of the ignition.

Also, if you disconnect that part of the dashboard and put it on ignition, you will receive an error on the dash. It seems a crash sensor of some sorts is builtin into that part.