AIR CON PROBLEM

I have a UK Feb 97 V70 (2.5 10v) with Climate Control. The Air Con has been
really good for 9 years, that is until now.

The air con clicks on when I start the car and runs really cold BUT
sometimes, not always, the aircon clicks out and does not seem to want to
come back on again until it has had a rest or I have parked the car for a
short while. The symptoms are a bit vague I am afraid because ther are not
always entirely consistant. When the air goes off clearly there is no
chilling effect and there is also a slightly stale smell (not cabbages)
until it eventually comes on again.

I have had the R134a pressure checked and that was ok not indicating any
leaks. Pressure was slightly low but then after 6 years since it was last
repressurised...........

I have read on the Volvo Owners Club Website that there is a clutch (???) on
the Air Con Compressor that is continually clicking on and off and that this
may be playing up - apparently this can be re-gapped to take out some wear,
the 'gap' being too wide or something.

Can anybody help me out here with a bit more info on the air con clutch and
whether this is the most likely problem or should I be looking elsewhere. I
am a bit reluctant to take the car into Volvo to start fiddling around with
at their charge out rates especially as they did not appear to be all that
knowledgeable on the subject. About the best I could get was 'bring it in
Sir and let us take a look, it could be almost anything' - really confidence
building stuff this.

Any help, direction, I really would like to understand what is going on
here.

Many thanks to everybody

Bruce

 

<snip>

The AC will behave like that if ice forms on the cooling
coil. Even a slight loss of coolant pressure can make it
more likely to happen. There is probably a sensor for
icing, and it might be acting up.

 

Firstly by pass the superheat cut out switch on the back of the compressor.
Handily the switch has two plugs which can be taken out of the circuit and
the car + compressor wires, although having different plugs will fit
together. Its obvious if you are looking at the car.

If this doesnt help, then yes, you need to have the compressor clutch
re-shimmed or replaced. (as the gap has gotten too big for the magnet to
pull the two halves together when warmed up.)

Tim..


It will be one of these two things.

 

I have been through exactly this over the last 4 weeks - suggestions given
to me included a sensor in the dash, which was looked at as the scrathched
the panel when removing it, the pump (it was) the cooling fan which is a two
stage and one of these stages was not working, so needing a new cooling
fan...

I had a local Volvo specialist do it all as they had to go through
proceedures to eliminate possible causes and when that was proved OK, move
on to the next thing. They were happy for me to provide the parts which I
got off salvage / breakers with a 90 day warranty but that is risky because
of the labour each time. Anyway I got all sorted for some 400 GBP sterling
and its running at the moment

It can be expensive !

Nick