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Air Conditioning low side port

Help, Advice, Owners' Discussion and DIY Tutorials devoted to the second generation C70, S40 and V50 Volvos -- awkwardly model year 2004 ½ onwards -- plus where to go for advice and discussion on Volvo's sporty C30 Coupe powered by Volvo's ubiquitous inline 5-cylinder power plant.
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Bruins27
Posts: 3
Joined: 29 April 2011
Year and Model: 2008 S40
Location: South Carolina

Air Conditioning low side port

Post by Bruins27 »

On a 2008 S40, does anyone know where the low side port is located? I have an idea, but not positive, and need to add some refrigerant to my A/C. I looked thru all the previous posts...and didn't see anything...or may have missed it. Thanks.

jimmy57
Posts: 6694
Joined: 12 November 2010
Year and Model: 2004 V70R GT, et al
Location: Ponder Texas
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Post by jimmy57 »

it is on the large diameter a/c pipe off the front side of engine (timing belt cover end of engine)
The high pressure port is under the black plastic piece on core support in front of engine, the piece below fresh air duct for air cleaner.
Why do you believe you need refrigerant added?
If you run engine at 1500 RPM with fan on next to highest speed and temp set to lowest on controls and wait 4-5 mins, you should have the large diameter pipe leading back to compressor chilled to a temp nearly ice cold. When the system is low the refrigerant has all boiled in evaporator and none is left to chill in that line. When the system is full the compressor will cycle if ambient temp is below 90F/32C (it will also cycle at temps higher than this but usually after the system runs a longer time to cool interior of car to a lower temp). The normal cycling frequency will be 10 seconds or a bit more. Short, less than 3-4 seconds, cycling with no chill on that line is a sign of low charge. This test DOES NOT work if you do not test the system as all manufacturers describe, the conditions I listed. Idling engine speed is not going to give accurate results, compressor speed is too low and pumping capacity of compressor is too low for any valid evaluation
As a point of information: This is only a testing scheme for systems NOT using an expansion valve, S40/V40 4 cylinder models, and the P2 and P3 have expansion valves. Also models using variable displacement compressor control do not cycle the compressor. At this time all P3 and the V8 and short I6 XC90 models use the VD compressor system.
.

Bruins27
Posts: 3
Joined: 29 April 2011
Year and Model: 2008 S40
Location: South Carolina

Post by Bruins27 »

The reason I believe I need to add some is now that it's finally warm enough here in SC to run the A/C, as I did the other day, it was blowing slightly cool, not cold air. I drive 40 miles one way to/from work, and on the way home, the car never really did get cool/cold.

vaniwaar
Posts: 8
Joined: 20 February 2011
Year and Model: 2001 S40
Location: Colorado Springs

Post by vaniwaar »

I just added refrigerant to my 2001 S40. Another check is that, if the refrigerant is low, the compressor will not spin up. Of course, the compressor not spinning up could also be a blown fuse but I checked that first. Don't know if a 2008 S0 has the same behavior or not...

--Ron

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