Volvo V70R Evaporator Problem.

volvobilly · Post by **volvobilly** » 05 Oct 2008, 03:01

Volvo V70R - 1998 - Evaporator Problem. Can anyone please advise on a problem and my own possible solution. My a/c evaporator has gone the way most others at this age have and is both leaking and broken. Typical standard failure. I have read for hours the extremely detailed repair sequence involving removing the dash etc., but I have a simple question. My wife is allergic to air conditioning - it makes her eyes swell and other complications, so, bearing in mind that I live in UK and don't even need a/c would it be possible to completely do away with the a/c and evaporator and just have it so that the heater matrix is blowing hot air (or cold air) and what would be the proceedure for this modification?.There is a leak obviously because when I turn on the heat to either floor or windscreen the windscreen mists up like crazy. Sometimes when I direct the heat to the dash vents a fine mist of foul smelling vapour is emitted. I am aware of the cost of having the evaporator repaired at a garage (wow!) but genuinely don't need the whole system. Would anyone be able to help and tell me if they think this would be feasible? And what parts to disconnect or disregard so that I still have a car with a heater that works without the use of a/c? I'd really appreciate some help because the car effectively has no useable heater and winter is fast approaching!!!

Post by **JRL** » 05 Oct 2008, 05:39

A/C is needed for the defroster to work and I'm not sure it can be just removed from the system.
Is you wife totally allergic or allergic to a bad unit with its smells and other foul stuff coming into the interior?
A new Evap and other new pieces of the system, including filters and perhaps a heater core will make it a very clean system

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 05 Oct 2008, 06:51

A couple of things going on here:
1. The evaporator is shot.
2. Your windshield mists up with HEAT and the smell is foul.

#2 is not your evaporator, but most likely your heater core with a leak- to get rid of the misting and foul smell- you're going to have to replace it. All-in-all, not very difficult and the entire dash does not have to come out for this.

Back to #1- Volvo does sell an AC delete belt for S/V/XC70's up through 2000 (assuming your model is in this range): Belt, part number is 9146973.... about $50 if you buy one from the dealer in the U.S. (don't know about the UK)...if you google it, it cross-references to 6K1270 which then cross-references to 4060500.

4060500 - 6 ribs 50.0" inches

48 inches is the actual Volvo delete belt length, but up to 50 will also work as the tensioner will take up the slack.

Without the AC delete (regular Volvo Serpentine belt), the length of the belt is 68 inches.

You can try 4060500 - used by the 2004 Ford Focus (4 Cylinders P 2.0L SFI SOHC) w/out AC- much cheaper than the Volvo belt- about $12 at an Autozone over here in the U.S. Gates/Gatorback also makes belts that some Volvo owners are running- main thing is 48 inches to 50 or so is acceptable- but the belt has to be a 6 rib belt (5 rib belts are common on other cars, so be careful you get the right one).

If you change the belt over, you'll also have to get a get a UR underdrive pulley which is smaller than the AC compressor pulley (thus the shorter belt). Volvo also has this pulley but I'm not sure of the part number.

When you change out the Serpentine belt to the shorter belt, the routing changes, so be aware of that- here is the new routing:

All this said, personally, I would get the A/C fixed one way or another...it is important when the windshield fogs up- which they do in rainy, colder conditions...and quite possibly, your wife is reacting to the leaking coolant (ethylene glycol) that is misting up inside of the cabin rather than the A/C....besides, if the evaporator is shot, there would be no more R134A to leak into the cabin to affect your wife (my 2 cents).

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 05 Oct 2008, 07:51

David you are like an encyclopedia (remember those?)...wow.

I agree that it should be fixed. Nobody is allergic to air conditioning -- they are allergic to the allergens that build up on the filter or the heat exchanging surfaces. In this system, typically with no filter, the evaporator unfortunately becomes the collection point.

Even if the system were shunted as described, all the stuff that's collected in there is going to continue to irritate someone who has allergies -- outside air is going to be pulled right through it.

The only other option is to keep the fan motor off and the damper on 'recirculate'...but that's not really an option, either.

Plus the safety aspect already mentioned when you can't see in the winter because the windshield has fogged up.

-Chuck

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 05 Oct 2008, 08:06

chuckcintron wrote:David you are like an encyclopedia (remember those?)

Well, I's tries....LOL

It's all a matter of if I have time to respond in length or not...I do have resources that I pull from when I have the time- or if I think chuckcintron or Ozark Lee are around, sometimes I get on with other things and leave the answers to you guys! another LOL...

About the Evap., yes for sure it will continue to recirculate the mold spores, etc....and it is important to change out the filter for sure- I personally use the filter with the carbon particles to get as much of the nasties taken out of the air as possible....

So, in short, whether or not you fix the A/C, it is important to replace the Evaporator and filter if you want your car to be as allergen free as possible. And....in my opinion, in this case, the heater core also needs to be looked at.

Post by **JRL** » 05 Oct 2008, 10:04

MadeInJapan wrote:
chuckcintron wrote:David you are like an encyclopedia (remember those?)
Well, I's tries....LOL

It's all a matter of if I have time to respond in length or not...I do have resources that I pull from when I have the time- or if I think chuckcintron or Ozark Lee are around, sometimes I get on with other things and leave the answers to you guys! another LOL...

About the Evap., yes for sure it will continue to recirculate the mold spores, etc....and it is important to change out the filter for sure- I personally use the filter with the carbon particles to get as much of the nasties taken out of the air as possible....

So, in short, whether or not you fix the A/C, it is important to replace the Evaporator and filter if you want your car to be as allergen free as possible. And....in my opinion, in this case, the heater core also needs to be looked at.

Also CLEANING the entire system at this time is crucial.
You make up a bleach and water solution, remove the cowl to get at the AC air intake system and SCRUB as far in as you can reach, wipe dry and repeat.
Then spray with Fridgee Fresh or an equivilent mold and mildew killer.
If you replace and clean everything the way I just pointed out, I will bet your wife will not be allergic to your car anymore

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 05 Oct 2008, 10:41

Good addition these necessary steps, Jim. Greatly appreciated!

TerryMcMahon · Post by **TerryMcMahon** » 31 Oct 2008, 09:41

I had exactly the same problem on my 99 V-70. The bas smell and the fogging in the windshield as well. Plus lots of that stinking liquid in the car´s upholstery (your next step).
Finally replaced the heater core (without removing the whole dashboard, you enter from below central console in the driver´s side) and all problems went away.
The floor upholster still smells dough, hopefully this incoming summer will finish the drying process.
One tip, here in Argentina original replacements are just impossible to buy so I used a heatcore from Chevrolet S10 (exactly the same size) which costed about 20 % of the original part.
Good luck

Terry

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 31 Oct 2008, 15:42

It's a shame that volvobilly posted once on this forum and never came back. Maybe I'll email him this link...hmmmm.

Post by **abscate** » 24 Apr 2019, 05:06

TerryMcMahon wrote: ↑31 Oct 2008, 09:41 I had exactly the same problem on my 99 V-70. The bas smell and the fogging in the windshield as well. Plus lots of that stinking liquid in the car´s upholstery (your next step).
Finally replaced the heater core (without removing the whole dashboard, you enter from below central console in the driver´s side) and all problems went away.
The floor upholster still smells dough, hopefully this incoming summer will finish the drying process.
One tip, here in Argentina original replacements are just impossible to buy so I used a heatcore from Chevrolet S10 (exactly the same size) which costed about 20 % of the original part.
Good luck
Terry

Stumbled across this thread while answering something else. Has anyone else tried a Chevy S10 heater core ?

This is ancient, 2008, so may be NLA.