AC always on!!! Help

nitink · Post by **nitink** » 06 Apr 2006, 14:43

I finally figured out the reason for poor gas milage and poor accleration in my 95, volvo 850 non turbo.

The Air Conditioner is always on!!! even though the switches inside are at off, its draining power fron engine and so goes the rest.. now that I know the problem but I doesn't know what to do next, definately some switch or relay is bad.
Can some one please tell me if there is something I can do about this problem of I have to take it to dealer. If someone have AC's circuit diagram can you please share with me also if the switches are dirt cheap can I simply reply them ?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Apr 2006, 15:54

How long have you had this car? A strange bird the 850 is...the AC light is on when it is off. The light if on, the AC is off. Maybe it's just this issue which you didn't know about?

nitink · Post by **nitink** » 06 Apr 2006, 16:26

Goshhhh!!
I didn't knew that when light is on, AC is off.

Finally...

A big big Thankkkkkkkkkkk Youuuuuuu.

l33tDad · Post by **l33tDad** » 06 Apr 2006, 16:40

...and it's just the opposite with the REC switch. If the light is on, the REC is active, off and it's not. I don't know. Someone must have been smoking something when they came up with this A/C & REC light thing.

vibbase · Post by **vibbase** » 06 Apr 2006, 17:00

It actually makes sense. You need to be aware of when you are recirculating air in the cabin which you only do for short periods to quickly cool it down. So, the light is on to remind you. And, you need to know when you have shut off the air conditioning because it is needed to maintain the temperature setting and also to help defrost your windows. (drier air) So, the light is on to remind you.
On this note, I have to say that I'm not very impressed with the climate control set up in my '96 850. It does too much for me, turning the air on and off, increasing/decreasing the blower speed and regulating the temperature between 2 sides of the car. It's complex. No wonder I have to replace the entire dash module to get it to work.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Apr 2006, 17:04

vibbase...I totally agree

Post by **JRL** » 07 Apr 2006, 21:12

MadeInJapan wrote:vibbase...I totally agree

Now there's the answer to why you (and he) are wierd.
That is the ONLY CAR IN THE WORLD that has a light that's ON when the A/C is OFF. Now that I'm driving an 850 for a while, it's the STUPIDEST, most rediculous switch I've ever seen in an auto.
When I first drove some 850's I couldn't figure out what was wrong until I looked close to see it's backwards. ALL cars have a light ON when the A/C is engaged.
Totally NON intuitive and to vibbase it makes NO SENSE AT ALL

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 07 Apr 2006, 21:59

Well, I know I'm weird...hey, I speak better Japanese than I do English and until I was almost 40 I had lived more years in Japan than in the U.S. When I first came over to the States, and would try my hand at humour, folks would never laugh, and would look at me as if I were stupid...took me awhile to catch on. But I don't think I'm as weird as some European designs.

On a similar note, at least I'm in agreement with you here Jim, that the switch being backwards is most idiotic (the Japanese, even with all of their double negatives and unusual ways would never design something like that). It seems however that Volvo finally smartened up and fixed it from '98 on. The original switch reminded me of the first car my brother owned (first kid to drive in my family over here), a early 70's model VW automatic stick shift. There seemed to be all kinds of knobs on the dash that made no sense...seemed backwards. Early audi's also had some similar stuff too iirc. Must be a european thing? Don't know.

Post by **JRL** » 08 Apr 2006, 05:45

Pre 1973 BMW's had the turn signal stalk on the RIGHT side of the steering column