Repost : 97 S70 Air conditioning in Australia

Discussion in 'Volvo S70' started by Hamish Alker-Jones, Jan 2, 2004.

  1. This post didn't turn up on my server, so I assumed it hasn't on anyone
    elses. Please excuse if you have read already! NYE!

    Greetings Brains Trust

    My wife has a 97 S70 (though you could argue that it is in fact a 1998,
    but...) and it has air-con dual climate control system that is being odd.
    Fuses good, no nasty sounds, and yes, dials set to 18 or lower! However,
    there was an odd sound behind the dash of some dullish clunking that is now
    not present. I'm wondering if it is the same sound that other posters have
    enquired about?

    In short, the weather where we are now has been considerably hotter than we
    have been used to and it seems the Ovlov doesn't like it either. It (A/C)
    will run great, nice and cold for a few minutes, and then cease cooling.
    The lights tells me that it (A/C) is still on, but the temp of the air
    coming out of the vents is getting warmer and has that smell of "the air con
    has been turned off". Then after a bit, it enters into a cycle of cool air,
    then back to no air con.

    Is this a trait of European vehicles and hot Australian summers, or is it
    that the gas needs a top up, or something else? Others I know with
    European cars have said that their machines have similar problems with
    struggling to keep cool in the heat, but not cycling like ours.

    In the BA Falcon (Australian model), there is not this problem, but it
    doesn't have climate control. In fact, my only experience of air con not
    working is the obvious, i.e. it just doesn't blow cool air.

    Any ideas?

    Kind regards

    Hamish.
     
    Hamish Alker-Jones, Jan 2, 2004
    #1
  2. Hamish Alker-Jones

    Joe Guest

    Hi sounds a bit like it could be low on gas or not condensing, there is a
    pressure switch in the AC system that disconnects the compressor when the
    pressure is either too high or low. I'd recommend that you take the car to a
    workshop that does air conditioner diagnosis and repairs.
    Joe
     
    Joe, Jan 5, 2004
    #2
  3. Hamish Alker-Jones

    Mike F Guest

    Generally low gas leads to fast cycling, which results in poor cooling,
    not cold then hot. The fuel (yes fuel) computer will shut off the A/C
    if the high side (condenser) pressure gets too high. The most common
    cause of this is the electric fan not working properly or the path for
    air through the condenser is partially blocked with leaves, or
    whatever. The fuel computer will also shut off the A/C if the coolant
    temperature gets too high.
    Also there is a temperature sensor on the back of the compressor that
    turns it off if it gets too hot. These sensors are problematic, and
    this can be bypassed.


    --
    Mike F.
    Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

    NOTE: new address!!
    Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
    (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
     
    Mike F, Jan 5, 2004
    #3
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