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Air Recirculation Not Working

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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C1ph3r
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Year and Model: 1999 V70T5
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Air Recirculation Not Working

Post by C1ph3r »

Hey guys. I tried some searching but I suppose I don't know how to exactly word my search. I have a 99 V70 T5 with I think is called electronic climate control? It has the duel zone temperature knobs

I noticed a while back that pushing the button for fresh air or recirculation does nothing.

I was thinking I would just take the panel out and see if there is any voltage on the other end of the wire but from what I am finding is this climate control system is way more complicated than it needs to be. I am not even sure where the motor would be.

Do I need to plug my car into a VIDA unit to figure this out or is there a more straight forward was I could go about this?

PS: I HATE automatic climate control systems. I also have this annoying fan noise from the little vent next to the steering wheel. Which I assume is some sort of intake fan to measure the interior air temp. But thats an issue for another day.
1999 Volvo V70 T5
1970 Chevrolet C10
2006 Acura RSX
2016 Subaru Impreza
1975 Honda CB360t

scot850
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Post by scot850 »

Look at the fresh air intake by the fan. There is a lever on the flap to servo that likes to break.

Neil.
2006 V70 2.5T AWD Polestar tune
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70 - Our son now has this and still parked in our garage
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L - Sold
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - Sold

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C1ph3r
Posts: 87
Joined: 14 December 2021
Year and Model: 1999 V70T5
Location: Concord NC
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Post by C1ph3r »

scot850 wrote: 07 Nov 2022, 14:50 Look at the fresh air intake by the fan. There is a lever on the flap to servo that likes to break.

Neil.
can i get to that behind the glove box?
1999 Volvo V70 T5
1970 Chevrolet C10
2006 Acura RSX
2016 Subaru Impreza
1975 Honda CB360t

scot850
Posts: 14877
Joined: 5 April 2010
Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
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Post by scot850 »

You have to remove the under-tray from the dashboard. To do that you have to remove the glovebox as the screws holding it in place are behind the glovebox insert.

I'm not sure if you will be able to see the the actuator arm from underneath or not. I'm not limber enough to try! However, to replace the arm (assuming it is broken) will require removing the glovebox and under tray.
Cold air flap actuator arm
Cold air flap actuator arm
20160831_123923.jpg (131.84 KiB) Viewed 1309 times
The actuator arm is the black plastic rod on the LHS of the white plastic casing for the cabin fan motor and has the white piece with the brass colored rod at the bottom.

Make sure if you have to replace it, which position the servo motor is in or it may jam or break the replacement. You can do that by operating the cold air flap via the ECC unit.

Hope this helps.

Neil.
2006 V70 2.5T AWD Polestar tune
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70 - Our son now has this and still parked in our garage
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L - Sold
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - Sold

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C1ph3r
Posts: 87
Joined: 14 December 2021
Year and Model: 1999 V70T5
Location: Concord NC
Has thanked: 32 times
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Post by C1ph3r »

Thank you so much for that. As soon as I get the chance I’ll take a look and see.
1999 Volvo V70 T5
1970 Chevrolet C10
2006 Acura RSX
2016 Subaru Impreza
1975 Honda CB360t

scot850
Posts: 14877
Joined: 5 April 2010
Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Has thanked: 1842 times
Been thanked: 1710 times

Post by scot850 »

To fit a replacement rod, you have to remove the servo motor. You have to remove one T10? small Torx screw at the front of the motor and it should slide out. Remember to check the movement of the servo to make sure you fit the arm in the correct position to allow the main cold air flap to open and close correctly. This is assuming this is the issue and not a bad servo motor!

Neil.
2006 V70 2.5T AWD Polestar tune
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70 - Our son now has this and still parked in our garage
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L - Sold
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - Sold

User avatar
C1ph3r
Posts: 87
Joined: 14 December 2021
Year and Model: 1999 V70T5
Location: Concord NC
Has thanked: 32 times
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Post by C1ph3r »

So I found that the servo arm was disconnected at the servo. I could operate the vent arm by hand and it seemed fine in both directions. The servo also seemed to move fine in both directions until I reconnected the arm.

It closes the vent to recirculate setting fine but when setting to fresh air it takes a really long time and seems to stutter. I’ve attached a quick video I made.



Does this mean the servo is bad? If so, how in the world do I get the old one out and where in the world do I find a new one.
1999 Volvo V70 T5
1970 Chevrolet C10
2006 Acura RSX
2016 Subaru Impreza
1975 Honda CB360t

454cid  
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Post by 454cid »

Mine doesn't hesitate when it swings back towards the firewall. I did notice that blower speed selection does effect how far it moves.

Unfortunately, when I select recirculate while on the highway, the pressure forces air through the flap and it whistles. I don't think it closes all the way to begin with. Maybe it needs to be adjusted electrically? I just live with it. I don't use recirculate that often any way.
1996 850
1999 S70 GLT (sold after deer hit)

2010 Ford Focus SE
2006 Cadillac CTS
1996 Mercedes C220
1999 Chevrolet K3500
1969 Buick LeSabre Custom 400

User avatar
C1ph3r
Posts: 87
Joined: 14 December 2021
Year and Model: 1999 V70T5
Location: Concord NC
Has thanked: 32 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by C1ph3r »

454cid wrote: 08 Nov 2022, 11:54 Mine doesn't hesitate when it swings back towards the firewall. I did notice that blower speed selection does effect how far it moves.

Unfortunately, when I select recirculate while on the highway, the pressure forces air through the flap and it whistles. I don't think it closes all the way to begin with. Maybe it needs to be adjusted electrically? I just live with it. I don't use recirculate that often any way.
interesting. makes me think my servo is indeed bad then. i use the function a lot in all my cars. usually set to recirculate. and I hate this auto climate control mess. volvo seems to think this can cause an increase in carbon monoxide inside the car and forces the fresh air vent to be open by default. according to the owner manual anyway. safety first :lol:
1999 Volvo V70 T5
1970 Chevrolet C10
2006 Acura RSX
2016 Subaru Impreza
1975 Honda CB360t

454cid  
Posts: 1250
Joined: 6 January 2022
Year and Model: 1996 850
Location: United States
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 128 times

Post by 454cid »

C1ph3r wrote: 08 Nov 2022, 12:31 interesting. makes me think my servo is indeed bad then. i use the function a lot in all my cars. usually set to recirculate. and I hate this auto climate control mess. volvo seems to think this can cause an increase in carbon monoxide inside the car and forces the fresh air vent to be open by default. according to the owner manual anyway. safety first :lol:
I have the manual controls in my 850, so there is a difference there.

I JUST picked up an S70 today that has the auto system, and I'd be happier with manual.
1996 850
1999 S70 GLT (sold after deer hit)

2010 Ford Focus SE
2006 Cadillac CTS
1996 Mercedes C220
1999 Chevrolet K3500
1969 Buick LeSabre Custom 400

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