air conditioner repairs

[850toronto]

I have a '96 850 Turbo wagon. I have replaced the air conditioner twice - both times a C$1300 repair, both times with a new compressor. The last repair never really worked - probably got about three weeks of use out of it before there was no cooling anymore - particularly frustrating as our long family car trip last summer was without air conditioning. Anyway, I took it back to the mechanic who said, not surprisingly, that there wasn't anything wrong with the repair he did before and that it is now probably the evaporator - and that that is a very expensive repair.

I like the car - its been great for almost 9 years - but I don't want to spend a whole bunch on yet another air conditioner repair. I understand that in Canada you can't get someone to just recharge the system as a temporary fix. Is this right? Also, any ideas as to who to go to in Toronto to get good honest and reasonably priced work done on a 9 year old Volvo?

[volvocare]

Hello friend, I own a 1996 also. I've started work on my air conditioning system this summer...after $500, I decided to stop going further because the car may not be worth it... I am still debating if I should be going any further because I hear allot of stories like yours... They work for a while and you are back to zero... it does seem like throwing money on cold air...

You can refill the a/c as temp. fix if you know someone who is willing to do it. Also, check around...I've heard of a new a/c sealer that will fix small leaks in A/C units prior to recharging. That is maybe all you need.

If you were in New Brunswick, I could refer you to someone but you are far away friend. Good luck. Paul

[WW]

I have a 1994 with 3 A/C units in it. I almost gave up on it until I discovered DURACOOL made in Edmonton AB. You can purchase it at Partsman. You have the system evacuated by an AC mechanic ~$40 cdn. and fill up your system with a Duracool kit for ~$120 cdn. The kit can be used without a licence since it is a hydrocarbon gas. In the kit you get a drier gas, a sealant gas and a lubricant plus a hose and pressure gauge. The web site will explain it all. I needed 2 extra cans of coolant due to finger problems. Once I shorted out the thermal switch on the back of the compressor and the pressure switch on the AC line at the firewall, I was able to fill the system. It now runs super cool. The distributor for Ontario was great to talk to and gave lots of advice. http://www.deepfreezeinc.ca/quick.htm