Volvo XC70 P3 AirCon compressor

[V70Zig]

Originally Posted by Fitzy73

My recent air conditioning problem turned out to be the failure of the fans, which were replaced at my local dealer.

They did tell me the compressor was now making a noise and recommend leaving it as replacement would be around £1,100. I assumed the noise couldn’t be that bad if they were suggesting ignore it.

On collection it whines like a supercharger and drowns out the engine.

If the compressor bearings seize your stretch belt will be toast and hopefully not get caught up in the other belts (especially the timing belt).
Happened to me a couple of years ago and I was lucky. Contacted a couple of local A/C companies local to me and one recommended I buy the compressor online as it would be cheaper than their supplier and would fit it for £90.

Got the parts from Autodoc, fitted and gassed up for less than £400.

My advice would be not to run the air con till it's sorted.

[Tannaton]

For some reason I believe it is Volvo policy to also replace the condenser if the compressor is diagnosed as failed, and this is a condition of the warranty on a new compressor, hence the high cost.

@Clan - am I right in that ?

[V70Zig]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

For some reason I believe it is Volvo policy to also replace the condenser if the compressor is diagnosed as failed, and this is a condition of the warranty on a new compressor, hence the high cost.

@Clan - am I right in that ?

When buying a new compressor you get this :-

IMPORTANT
When replacing the air compressor, the Dryer has to be replaced and the system flushed! Otherwise, the warranty will not be valid!

The cost of a Dryer is less than £50, no idea what's involved in fitting it though.
Still running cold 2 years on. So no issue's or complaints from me.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by V70Zig

When buying a new compressor you get this :-

IMPORTANT
When replacing the air compressor, the Dryer has to be replaced and the system flushed! Otherwise, the warranty will not be valid!

The cost of a Dryer is less than £50, no idea what's involved in fitting it though.
Still running cold 2 years on. So no issue's or complaints from me.

Thanks for posting that - I knew something else had to be replaced.....

[Fitzy73]

Originally Posted by V70Zig

If the compressor bearings seize your stretch belt will be toast and hopefully not get caught up in the other belts (especially the timing belt).
Happened to me a couple of years ago and I was lucky. Contacted a couple of local A/C companies local to me and one recommended I buy the compressor online as it would be cheaper than their supplier and would fit it for £90.

Got the parts from Autodoc, fitted and gassed up for less than £400.

My advice would be not to run the air con till it's sorted.

Thanks very much for that information, much appreciated and not very helpful of the Volvo dealer telling me just to leave it like that.

[V70Zig]

Originally Posted by Fitzy73

Thanks very much for that information, much appreciated and not very helpful of the Volvo dealer telling me just to leave it like that.

The dealers aren't A/C specialists and you should try to find one for expert advice before switching it on.