AC Cool for 10 min only

[latigerlilly]

Hi,

My Air conditioner would only cool for 10 minutes then the fan would run, but only warm air would come out.

I'm thinking that this is a freon problem? It needs more freon? However, if it doesn't have enough freon, wouldn't it not get cool at all? Therefore, the compressor is not broken either by the same line of reasoning?

So, my guess is that it is a thermostat problem. Any way to bypass the thermostat so that it would just run at maximum cool all the time? That would be an inexpensive fix. Or perhaps I'd have to replace the electronic part? If so, where is the part and how do I fix it? Thanks!

P.S.
It is a 200,000 mi car that has never had any air con work done. It is a 1998 model S70.

[MadeInJapan]

Let me suggest that you look at the "official A/C" thread in the repair database and you also read this: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... hp?t=15387

For the A/C to be switching off after 10 minutes it means that most likely something is over heating and a "safety mechanism" is kicking in to protect the system. Therefore rigging your system to run all of the time is not a solution but would be creating more problems. There's a reason for it.

Anyway, read some and then post back.

Regards,
MIJ

[Ozark Lee]

Sounds like an A/C clutch shim problem to me.

Check these threads and see if it might apply to your situation.

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.ph ... opic=16658

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/Ac-Therm ... 76833.html

And the ghetto fix:

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.ph ... opic=80181

...Lee

[tailor]

Ozark wrote:

Sounds like an A/C clutch shim problem to me.

I cannot understand why it would run for 10 minutes and then stop, based on the theory above.
If the gap is too big why would it run in the first place?
Or.. is it due to heat build up, the gap expands beyond specs and therefore causes the compressor to stop.

Ozark, clearly you have a superior knowledge when it comes to repairs, please enlighten me here.

[/u]

[JoeNewbie]

Clutch shim problem.........Just fixed mine after 2 years of this 10 minutes on 10 minutes off bs..........And it works incredibly great. I took out all 3 shims.
Shop wanted $125 to do the job......I did it myself.........

[Ozark Lee]

If the gap is too big why would it run in the first place?
Or.. is it due to heat build up, the gap expands beyond specs and therefore causes the compressor to stop.

There are a couple of things at play.

Once the gap gets to wide the electromagnet on the clutch has to work very hard to draw the clutch in. It then gets hot and the thermal cutout switch shuts the compressor off until it cools down.

The gap itself doesn't really grow it is more of a temperature problem. The heat is often exacerbated by some clutch slippage.

...Lee