What did you do to your Volvo today? Topic is solved

[abscate]

Got Abby’s AC snicked in with a perfect charge and 40F cooling delta. It tosses ice cubes into the cabin

Changed oil in Shagg. Still waiting on clamps to finish cooling group refresh.

Changed oil on Bismarka, the 2013 Golf 5 speed

What's your basic procedure for AC? I have a manifold gauge, I charge it to around 35 psi with the AC on full blast, and then when I actually drive the car, it eventually cuts out until I put the fan on max speed, and then cuts out completely and doesn't come back on when I go highway speeds to surface streets and stoplights. I cleaned the condenser with coil cleaner.

I’ve blown out two of the metal oil filters on P80s from rust out on the top

Shaggs was 12-24 months (?) old and looked nasty

Take home message. In wet climates these need annual replacement regardless of mileage

I can't pierce them cleanly with a screwdriver to drain them though, the metal is too thick.

Definitely sounds like clutch gap problem. Bread clips or zip ties is the simple fix.

I literally charge to either

1. Mass if the system is fresh and empty

B.performance otherwise. I had not charged her AC in 5 years and I suspected she had lost some Freon, the baseline condition is 1500 rpm, full AC, recirc, fan on speed 3 with the compressor full time on, you aim for 30F delta between ambient and output at the center vent, measured with a stick thermometer

25F - that will get you comfortable and an older system with dirt on evaporator might be best you can do
30F/35 typical of a good condition system and will be really nice in hot summer
40F - usually about the best you can do and will only get this performance over about 30-50g refrigerant charge range

hot climates, stay on the low side of charge 50-70g below the 750g charge
Cold climates - stay 30-50g above charge capacity , if you play this right you get there without losing temperature delta

[jsrnsis]

Could someone post a picture of the area to check? What are the rocker panels and what must come off to check them for rust.

Because if any car has rust, it's my poor neglected Geronimo. I want to know now before installing the $2000 in parts I've recently purchased for it.

There's the light rust on the inside of a panel.

That's what it will turn into if left unwashed, with built up leaves and dirt behind the plastic cover, and possibly some mice living in there.

To give it a quick check, look at the back side of the pinch weld for any rust, and if there is some, see how weak the metal is, if might be flaky and just crumble in your hands.
To really check though, you need to punch out the center core of all the plastic push pins along the lower outer edge of the rocker cover, and then pry the whole push pin out. I had to use a metal trim clip tool, the plastic ones just bent.
If you have the older style 850 plastic covers, you need to open the doors and pop out the little access covers you see on top to get at the clips.
If you don't have the access plates, you just insert a trim tool under the top edge and slide it down with light upward pressure, it doesn't take much to get the top clips out, and then with the doors open you should be able to wiggle the cover right off. Any paint bubbles probably mean there's rust there from the inside out.

While you're at it, take the rear wheels off and take the fender liners out, just pop it off those three studs in the back first and it should slide right out, there's clips along the outside edge of the wheel well that keep it in place. Putting it back on you just put the clips in first and then push it over the studs.
And take the time to look up into the rear shock towers and rear bumper mounting area.

[abscate]

Here’s a great link where I graduated from AC idiot to mere AC moron, courtesy of jimmy in TX

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=86562

[jsrnsis]

Here’s a great link where I graduated from AC idiot to mere AC moron, courtesy of jimmy in TX

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=86562

What kind of performance can I really expect to see out of 850 A/C? I know the systems are old and A/C was probably not on the top of the Swedish priority list, but I felt it was never enough to truly cool the car off. On full blast, recirc with the vents all pointed right at me it was only barely able to keep me comfortable on a 90°F day.

[foggydogg]

Take a hard look at the cabin air filter, and if you peer down into the hole and see any gack, think about pulling the blower motor as well to clean the evaporator fins. Robert may have a video, but it may be embedded in some other business.

[abscate]

These are luxury cars and the hVAC system is excellent. I take heat very poorly and a 30F delta system keeps me very comfortable

My current 40F will freeze you out even in 90F

[454cid]

Here’s a great link where I graduated from AC idiot to mere AC moron, courtesy of jimmy in TX

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=86562

What kind of performance can I really expect to see out of 850 A/C? I know the systems are old and A/C was probably not on the top of the Swedish priority list, but I felt it was never enough to truly cool the car off. On full blast, recirc with the vents all pointed right at me it was only barely able to keep me comfortable on a 90°F day.

I don't use the 850 AC as often since I'm still driving my "winter car" S70 to work every day, but I think My 850 AC works better than you describe. Your description sounds more like what my truck was like when it's AC "worked"..... couldn't keep up with the sun coming in the windows. I always figured it was a factory defect as others have reported decent operation.

Both my Volvo's compressors seem to cycle a lot. I've sure been enjoying the AC on my trips to/from work.... first reliable AC I've really had.

[abscate]

Well, coil was not problem on Shagg.

No compression in #3

Point of order. You can drive 55-60 to NYC then Long Island on 4 cylinders at 25mpg with fuel injector plug pulled

Shagg has served well

Back on road July 2 with fresh reworked cylinder head. Took three months due to my travel and new house responsibilities.

Shop in Centereach was really fast and good to work with

[scot850]

Glad to hear Shagg is back up and running and serving well again! Well done that man.

Neil.

[foggydogg]

Finally got to look around the innards of the 850R project, starts, stops and steers, but...

There is some as-yet unidentified spooge on the carpet under the aftermarket rubber floor mats. I resisted the urge to taste test it.