Air Con:~ Regas?
 

V70 1997 2.5 Petrol: ~ the air conditioning isn’t as cold as it should be so prior to having the gas redone any advice is appreciated.
Checked the clutch gap and it’s within the recommended tolerances & showing no wear however it doesn’t cut in once the setting are selected- tried knocking it as the compressor runs but the clutch remains still.
I believe that if the gas is low then it will not work- so I’m looking to have it checked for leaks and a refill etc. - any other recommendations?
Thanks Bob

Air con doesn't work if gas is low
 

The compressor won't kick in if there isn't enough gas in the system.
My 1999 T5 needs regassing pretty much every year. I've managed two years once but normally every year. This year the reservoir blew a leak at its bottom when re-gassed, so that needed replacement after 19 years use.

A re-gas shouldn't cost more than about £80.

Eyeball the ac drier unit carefully. With time they will rot and cause leaks.

I have renewed almost the whole system in mine - leaks absolutely everywhere. Fix one, another appears.

With mine the first evaporator in dash needed replacement because it was completely clogged with fluff. Being permanently damp, this corrodes the aluminium to the point it becomes porous. None of this you can tell until you have taken so much out that you might as well replace it. When recharged, it is ice cold for about a day and then depletes over the next week or so, but always actually works, so you convince yourself for quite a while that this isn't the problem.

I made the error of putting an AC stop leak into it. It completely clogged the orifice tube and then the high evaporator switch kept cutting the compressor due to low pressure, even when full of gas.

Then there are the wretched push fit connectors and use once 'o' rings, none of which are standard size.

My advice would be don't bother. I've spent thousands over the last ten years and it still doesn't work.

The drier as most of the parts/fitting on this car looks brand new- The car is a one owner & completes with a FULL service record via Volvo- the mileage is very low at 62’000. I have got most if not all the niggles sorted now so this is one of the last- will give it some thought.
Thanks Bob

The Accumulators are bad for rotting out on them but 50-60 quid normally fixes that.
Get yourself a set of the release clips for the pipes off Ebay there cheap and useful if your going to be messing about with the A/C
I've gassed my A/C about twice in the last 6 yrs and it's ice cold.
Stay well away from those stop leak potions as it gums up the system.
It's a great thing at this time of year.
What I will say is the wholesale price of the gas has recently rocketed recently so if anywhere is offering it for under 75-80 quid a re-gas grab the opportunity quick.

All Bosch AC service systems and other manufactures are providing test solutions that sample the contents of the AC system and pick up the presence of the stop leak solutions. When the test proves positive we refuse to work on the system as the have been many report of the AC service machine filtration systems becoming blocked during the recovery phase of the AC service. No one wants to risk a 5k machine for a 80 quid service.