C70 Aircon problem

[angular banjo]

Hi

The air con hasn't blown cold air on our 2008 C70 2.4i since we bought it before Christmas.

The wife took it in to ATS today for a regas (special offer £28) and their assessment was that it was holding the new gas, there was no leak but it still wasn't blowing cold air. They refunded us the £28. Their suggestion was that the condenser was likely at fault which puzzled me because my understanding is that if the condenser is at fault it's usually because it's holed and so is leaking.

I've read some posts on here about a common problem with the A/C compressor clutch on these models?

I was just wondering what the good people here though might be the likely culprit given a) holding its charge b) still no cold air??

Thanks as always

Steve

[cheshired5]

You may just have a faulty pressure sensor.
If the system is full but the sensor is reporting no pressure, the compressor won't be activated.
A member with Volvo diagnostics would be able to try a few things so maybe put out a request in the General section of the forum.
Is the compressor clutch plate engaging or staying still?

[angular banjo]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

Is the compressor clutch plate engaging or staying still?

I was worried someone might ask me something like that!

What would I look for or listen out for to check what the compressor clutch plate is doing?

[cheshired5]

Take a look at this thread for ideas in general and the clutch is a circular plate on the AC pulley which engages and spins with the pulley when the compressor is working then stops and the cycle repeats.

I don't know your exact design but the clutch looks like this..... (far left).

[Peter V70 D5]

Originally Posted by angular banjo

I was worried someone might ask me something like that!

What would I look for or listen out for to check what the compressor clutch plate is doing?

My advice is to get it sorted by Volvo or good specialist I left mine over the winter and eventually the Clutch / Bearing gave in, casting the belt into the mix taking out the Aux belt then the Cam belt then the pulley ripped from the block and piston and valve gear smashed all from not having some one do the AC Compressor for me .New Engines are expensive!
Good Luck!

[poiuytre111]

My 2 cents - You should be able to see the outside of the compressor pulley from under the drivers side front, i.e. in front of the front wheel and at almost bumper level - it looks quite distinctive as per the illustration above. Be very careful if grovelling near the front wheel with the engine running.

With AC turned off it should appear stationary, when you turn AC on with the engine running it should look like it is turning. If it doesn't turn it may benefit from a reduction of the working clearance, either by taking it off and removing spacers or by using pull ties - more searching to see how that is done.

[angular banjo]

All really helpful replies, thanks guys.

I'll have a look tommorow to see if the AC comp clutch is spinning when I switch the A/c on.

The car's going into a local specialist soon to have a rattle in the roof looked at so the sensible thing would seem to be to ask them to hook it up to the diagnostics and check the A/C system at the same time

[dme123]

It is 99% sure to be the condensor. Very common failure in these cars.

Mine held gas according to Kwik Fit. They are clueless.

[phil1968]

It's because they actually don't know how A/C works, they plug an automated machine in that deals with the whole evacuation / recharging process. That machine, before recharging with refrigerant, pulls a vacuum which is the equivalent of only -15 psi, if it holds that vacuum for a short time they then deem the system leak-tight, when to do a proper leak check you need to pressurise the system to at least a couple of hundred psi with nitrogen. That will show up the leak, which will most likely be on the condenser. Your best bet is to take the car to an A/C specialist, they at least know how it works.
Factor 700 quid to have the condenser replaced at a dealer, about 450 at an indy, or a couple of hundred for a genuine part & an afternoon of your time if you're handy with the spanners.