ac works sometimes s70

ronleroux · Post by **ronleroux** » 05 Jun 2010, 14:59

I have a 98 s70 that the ac worked fine when i turn the car on, but after turning it off and turning it back on, it wont work. i needed to wait 10 minutes or so and then trying it again, it worked. sometimes it would run for a half hour or so, then just blow warm air. to make things worse, i tried to fix it by unplugging one of the sensors on the line, amd shorted it out somehow. i checked all the fuses and changed the ac relay fuse but now there is nothing. it doesnt work at all now and cant figure why there is no fuse in the fuse box for it, or maybe somewhere else? any thoughts? any advice would be appreciated. thanks, ron

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 05 Jun 2010, 16:54

Welcome to MVS Ron,

If your A/C works OK for a while and then quits I am thinking that you have an A/C clutch gap issue. If you can hear the compressor cycling on and off then you have a low R-134A charge issue. The low pressure with coolant is easily fixed by adding more but if it repeats itself then you are likely looking at replacing the evaporator core which is tedious.

Check the repair database for details on both scenarios.

...Lee

ronleroux · Post by **ronleroux** » 05 Jun 2010, 18:21

thanks, ill check out those things-

ronleroux · Post by **ronleroux** » 06 Jun 2010, 13:56

i disconnected the battery and connected it again, that re- set the computer i guess, and now it works until i turn it off, and wont come back on unless i wait a few minutes. i recharged it by putting another can of refrigerant and the clicking sound is gone. this is a northern car and the ac was really never used. now i am in florida and it seems to slowly last longer all the time before it gives out. maybe it will come out of it i am hoping, after reading about changing the evaporator!! any thoughts about adding lubricant to the system? i was thinking of trying that next because its probably never been done, since it was new....

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Jun 2010, 17:29

The system normally won't leak any oil unless there is a catastrophic failure like the bottom of the accumulator rusting out and blowing a hole in itself.

I would be checking this one electrically starting from the A/C relay and working my way forward through the pressure switch and on to the compressor and the compressor thermal cutout.

...Lee

ronleroux · Post by **ronleroux** » 10 Jun 2010, 21:22

i found out it was the compressor clutch gap by putting pressure on it with a broomstick as someone had wrote about. i temporarily put some shims on the outside of the clutch. it was the "ghetto" fix described by nate. i appreciate all the advice and the ac works great now all the time! i'll take it apart and do it the correct way when it is a little cooler. the whole process took about 15 minutes!