A/C Compressor not coming on - 84 Volvo 242

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave
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Dave

This problem is with my 1984 Volvo 242. Had my a/c system completely
rebuilt 2.5 years ago with new compressor, etc and has been working
fine. The compressor is no longer turning on when the a/c switch is
turned on. The adjustable thermostat switch on the switch was not
replaced when the system was redone. Before taking this in to the Volvo
mechanic, are their any obvious things to check? I did check the fuse
and it was OK. Is their anything funny about this thermostat switch?

Thanks in advance,

Dave
 
Dave said:
This problem is with my 1984 Volvo 242. Had my a/c system completely
rebuilt 2.5 years ago with new compressor, etc and has been working
fine. The compressor is no longer turning on when the a/c switch is
turned on. The adjustable thermostat switch on the switch was not
replaced when the system was redone. Before taking this in to the Volvo
mechanic, are their any obvious things to check? I did check the fuse
and it was OK. Is their anything funny about this thermostat switch?

Thanks in advance,

Dave
Click to expand...

You can check it with an ohm meter, it's just a switch. Be careful not
to damage the capillary tube for the thermostat that controls it.
Turning it fully clockwise should close the contacts regardless of the
state of the thermostat. If the compressor is no longer turning on the
charge may have leaked out, I don't recall whether the 240s have a
pressostat to sense that.
 
Dave said:
This problem is with my 1984 Volvo 242. Had my a/c system completely
rebuilt 2.5 years ago with new compressor, etc and has been working
fine. The compressor is no longer turning on when the a/c switch is
turned on. The adjustable thermostat switch on the switch was not
replaced when the system was redone. Before taking this in to the Volvo
mechanic, are their any obvious things to check? I did check the fuse
and it was OK. Is their anything funny about this thermostat switch?

Thanks in advance,

Dave
Click to expand...

Connect the 2 wires at the receiver-drier, and see if the compressor
comes on then. If so, then the switch is bad (very unlikely) or the
refrigerant has been lost.
--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
 
Dave
I do not know where the a/c compressor is on the 242, but if you can get to
it, when you think that it should be coming in, ie a/c full on, VERY
CAREFULLY give the end of the clutch a tap with a thin wooden stick. If it
clicks in, your clutch may be worn beyond its limits. It might be possible
to adjust it in situ if this is the problem.
Graham
 
graham.brownlee2 said:
Dave
I do not know where the a/c compressor is on the 242, but if you can get to
it, when you think that it should be coming in, ie a/c full on, VERY
CAREFULLY give the end of the clutch a tap with a thin wooden stick. If it
clicks in, your clutch may be worn beyond its limits. It might be possible
to adjust it in situ if this is the problem.
Graham
Click to expand...

It's right on the front on the lower-left side of the car. Easy to get
to like all the rest of the accessories on a 240.
 
You can check it with an ohm meter, it's just a switch. Be careful not
to damage the capillary tube for the thermostat that controls it.
Turning it fully clockwise should close the contacts regardless of the
state of the thermostat. If the compressor is no longer turning on the
charge may have leaked out, I don't recall whether the 240s have a
pressostat to sense that.
Click to expand...

While we're on the subject, what's the deal with the red end of the AC
thermostat? What's that represent? War Emergency Air Conditioning?
Temperatures so cold as to be dangerous?
 
While we're on the subject, what's the deal with the red end of the AC
thermostat? What's that represent? War Emergency Air Conditioning?
Temperatures so cold as to be dangerous?
Click to expand...

It bypasses the thermostatic switch, forcing the compressor to stay on
(assuming no fault conditions). It can cause the evaporator to ice up,
no damage but it will stop cooling until the ice melts and it could leak
on the carpet.
 
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