A/C doesn't work 1999 Volvo V70

Post by **JRL** » 19 Sep 2008, 16:49

wheelsup wrote: JRL how do you clean the system out with the bleach solution? I will need to do that next spring, my vents smell very bad.

Why wait, smells are worse in the winter?
Remove the cowl, get to the AC air intake.
(Use ubber gloves), soak a towel/rag in the 50/50 solution and wipe the sides of the area and down as far as you can go, (don't let it drip down too much)
Wipe off, repeat.
Install a cabin filter kit (cheap and easy) if you don't have one now and you should be fine.
I also spray "Fridgee Fresh" in there after it's all dried to thoroughly kill all the mildew and mold that may be left in there

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 19 Sep 2008, 17:39

If you really want to get to the source you can remove the blower and get a straight shot at the evap coil. The bleach solution might be corrosive to the aluminum and I would rinse it throughly. Hopefully your condensate drain isn't plugged.

...Lee

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Sep 2008, 19:48

If it's plugged you can unclog it...it sit right in the center, next to the heater core and has a black rubber hose connecting from the evaporator pan to that drain. Some compressed air should unclog it.

Post by **wheelsup** » 22 Sep 2008, 09:37

Thanks guys, I'll try wiping it out, I plan on doing the evaporator next spring in time for the summer. It finally stopped holding a charge over this summer, it was tough but I made it! Sure didn't want to tackle that thing this year. I need some time to prepare!!

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 22 Sep 2008, 17:17

Just be aware that if it's sucked in air (has no positive pressure out of the inlet valve) you're in for more than the evaporator- you'll have to evacuate the system and also change out the receiver/drier as it will be clogged up with moisture.

mbsl98 · Post by **mbsl98** » 25 Sep 2008, 09:12

While these all will need evaporators, they also all need receiver/drier replacements. That is either the first or second most common place for a freon leak, and far cheaper/easier to re-do. If you put some dye into the freon system, you can check to see if the receiver is leaking or not. As far as cleaning out the system, I would hold that until you pull the evaporator, since you will have complete acess to almost all of the air ducts once you remove and open the big white air box that the evaoprator and heater core live in. In the short term, you can spray some cleaner/mold remover into the system through the air intake, with fan running and interior vents open. You can also spray some of it into the vents from the interior of car, let it sit for a bit, and then run the fan to blow it out. Buy it at any auto parts place. The real cleaning is better, but this helps some.

Post by **wheelsup** » 25 Sep 2008, 09:40

I replaced the receiver/dryer about 1.5 years ago, it was completely rusted out the bottom. That helped hold the 134a charge for that time frame with minimal recharging but it appears as though the evap has finally given up its ghost. I will be replacing the receiver/dryer when I do the evap. Thanks for the tip about the mold removal stuff, I'll give that a shot.