Air Con Woes!

[Laney760]

Hi to All.

I have had a decade plus of beautiful ice cold air con from the 940 and suddenly nothing but hot air! My garage found the gas was low and regassed it but it didn't last five minutes before it was blasing out hot air again. The garage said they had put dye in with the gas in case I had a leak and today they've told me I need to get a new air con condensor.

As I am spending so much money on the car at the moment, I'm not sure if I will actually bother with the air con right now but I was wondering is this the sort of part its worth buying second hand. I don't normally do breakers to be honest but there is a cost of living crisis!

[Phil Croxley]

When I had my Lexus LS I bought a used aircon compressor which was fine. Apart from being "guaranteed" it works, it needs to be removed from the donor vehicle when you request it because if it's left lying on a shelf for months the seals can dry out.

[Laney760]

Originally Posted by Phil Croxley

When I had my Lexus LS I bought a used aircon compressor which was fine. Apart from being "guaranteed" it works, it needs to be removed from the donor vehicle when you request it because if it's left lying on a shelf for months the seals can dry out.

Cheers for that. I'll keep an eye out for anyone breaking a 940 on here.

[Laird Scooby]

If the condenser is gone Ellie, you're better off buying a new one, luckily they're not expensive (compared to others) for the 7/9xx.

The point about the compressor being removed from the caar above isn't quite right either, if the system isn't used frequently (once a month for 20-30 minutes miniumum) the seals will dry out anyway - it's the circulation of the oil in the gas that keeps the seals moist.

This should be the right condenser :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394491742340

When you consider a garage will charge a minimum of ~£45/hr (probably + VAT) to remove your leaky condenser and fit a replacement, if that secondhand replacement leaks, they'll charge you again for the labour to remove it to fit another, probably plus any gas they've used - they should test it first using a "safe" gas before filling with refrigerant.

[volvo always]

Without a doubt buy a new one.

You should see a dark residue as this will be the leak on the old condenser.

You can remove the grill and get a good look at it as the condenser is the rad behind the front grille.

I hope your condenser clamp comes off as mine was a pig. My AC only worked for 6 weeks until leaked out and not tried to reinstate the last 3-4 years. Fitted a new condenser, used compressor as old leaking and new receiver/dryer.

I have the Nissens AC condenser in my 940. Fitted well, but not sure if the inlet pipes on the condenser aren't a bit bigger as used Genuine Volvo AC O rings and leaking at the clamp. Going to install some better condition pipes and slightly larger O rings and see if I can fix it. Fed up of being told pressure test ok, regas and a week later leaked out and £100 lighter!

What's the opinion in adding leak sealer?

Great that you got 10 years of cold AC. Hope you can repair easily, and at least the other components are good.

James

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by volvo always

Without a doubt buy a new one.

You should see a dark residue as this will be the leak on the old condenser.


James

Not all leak detector dyes do that James but if a UV light source is available, they (usually) glow greeny-yellow where the leak is, similar shade to the old yellow highlighter pens.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

If the condenser is gone Ellie, you're better off buying a new one, luckily they're not expensive (compared to others) for the 7/9xx.

The point about the compressor being removed from the caar above isn't quite right either, if the system isn't used frequently (once a month for 20-30 minutes miniumum) the seals will dry out anyway - it's the circulation of the oil in the gas that keeps the seals moist.

This should be the right condenser :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394491742340

When you consider a garage will charge a minimum of ~£45/hr (probably + VAT) to remove your leaky condenser and fit a replacement, if that secondhand replacement leaks, they'll charge you again for the labour to remove it to fit another, probably plus any gas they've used - they should test it first using a "safe" gas before filling with refrigerant.

Indeed, that has been a legal requirement since 2010 , they must do a leak test with oxygen free Nitrogen gas before introducing any refrigerant into the system, They could be faced with a £40000 fine for willingly letting Refrigerant into the atmosphere.
Today £45 x 2 would be considered remarkably inexpensive ! In the last 15 years The independents have been taking their prices as near the dealer as they dare.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Clan

Indeed, that has been a legal requirement since 2010 , they must do a leak test with oxygen free Nitrogen gas before introducing any refrigerant into the system, They could be faced with a £40000 fine for willingly letting Refrigerant into the atmosphere.
Today £45 x 2 would be considered remarkably inexpensive ! In the last 15 years The independents have been taking their prices as near the dealer as they dare.

The one problem with nitrogen is the molecules are larger than the refrigerant molecules (or so i was told by someone who apparently understood chemistry) so could pass the leak test with nitrogen (about 80% of the air we breathe in any case - Kwik-Fit ran a thing for many years of filling tyres with nitrogen and charging as it allegedly reduced leaks! ) but fail with R134a.

However they cover their collective backside by testing it, won't alter the outcome though!

As for the labour rate, i picked that as it is about the cheapest but served to illustrate the point i was making about it being a false economy buying a used condenser - i did forget to say it is good practice to renew the reciever/dryer at the same time, again fairly cheap for the 7/9xx compared to most others.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

The one problem with nitrogen is the molecules are larger than the refrigerant molecules (or so i was told by someone who apparently understood chemistry) so could pass the leak test with nitrogen (about 80% of the air we breathe in any case - Kwik-Fit ran a thing for many years of filling tyres with nitrogen and charging as it allegedly reduced leaks! ) but fail with R134a.

However they cover their collective backside by testing it, won't alter the outcome though!

As for the labour rate, i picked that as it is about the cheapest but served to illustrate the point i was making about it being a false economy buying a used condenser - i did forget to say it is good practice to renew the reciever/dryer at the same time, again fairly cheap for the 7/9xx compared to most others.

Yes it is advised to change the dryer if the system has been open to the air for a length of time . Oxygen free Nitrogen is the official gas you have to use for leak testing.

I was lucky enough to have done the course in 2013 and am certified. volvos are remarkably leakfree, except for the S40/V50/C70 series (ford)

you will still see most 440 series and S40/V40 1996-2004 with their original gas .

[Laney760]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

If the condenser is gone Ellie, you're better off buying a new one, luckily they're not expensive (compared to others) for the 7/9xx.

The point about the compressor being removed from the caar above isn't quite right either, if the system isn't used frequently (once a month for 20-30 minutes miniumum) the seals will dry out anyway - it's the circulation of the oil in the gas that keeps the seals moist.

This should be the right condenser :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394491742340

When you consider a garage will charge a minimum of ~£45/hr (probably + VAT) to remove your leaky condenser and fit a replacement, if that secondhand replacement leaks, they'll charge you again for the labour to remove it to fit another, probably plus any gas they've used - they should test it first using a "safe" gas before filling with refrigerant.

Cheers Dave. Finally got time to deal with this, seller won't let me order until he has my vehicle details, waiting to hear back from him its the right one so I can purchase.