Air Conditaning Questions?

[VenomS40]

My A/C is working fine but a few questions crossed my mind this afternoon while driving. I got the car used and things like the A/C I'm unsure of the history of? My questions are:

1. How often should you get your AC re-gassed?

2. If you don't need it gassed how often should you get the system cleaned and made to smell fresher?

James.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by VenomS40

My A/C is working fine but a few questions crossed my mind this afternoon while driving. I got the car used and things like the A/C I'm unsure of the history of? My questions are:

1. How often should you get your AC re-gassed?

2. If you don't need it gassed how often should you get the system cleaned and made to smell fresher?

James.

You should never need to get it re gassed , it is a sealed system . If it looses gas you have a leak somewhere ... Generaly volvo AC systems dont smell , but you can do a spray treatment if you find it smells .

[jamesferns]

Originally Posted by Clan

You should never need to get it re gassed , it is a sealed system . If it looses gas you have a leak somewhere ... Generaly volvo AC systems dont smell , but you can do a spray treatment if you find it smells .

As far as vehicle systems are concerned i would have to disagree with clan on that one, all systems do leak over time to some degree , the industry accepted norm is gas loss of around 15 percent per annum which is why your system should be checked every couple of years

[Daim]

What Clan said about gassing and smells...

The most important thing is to use it correctly! The AC requires regular usage and MUST be treated well. I'd had my A/C in my C30 (well, actually had my C30 now 4 years! Yiha!) never actually serviced. I had to have it regassed about 3 years ago, after the low pressure pipe to the compressor sheared off (grrrr) but that wasn't due to bad treatment. I've gathered enough experience and from an A/C expert a lot of tips, which will give the A/C a long life and not make it smell...

Here the tips:
1. don't turn the A/C off for a long time. Use it at least once a week! Don't turn it off in winter, as it will remove the damp air in your car!
2. about 5 minutes before getting to your destination, turn the A/C off and turn the heating up a little bit! Even if it is 28°c in the shade outside, turn the A/C off and turn the heating up - this will dry the condenser off and kill all bacteria -> no smells possible.
3. if it smells, try the drying method first if it doesn't work: head to a workshop to get it done.
4. if you need a regas: don't be conned into buying the "leak additive". R134a will glow under UV light too...

If these tips are followed, you won't be suprised by high bills

[Daim]

Originally Posted by jamesferns

As far as vehicle systems are concerned i would have to disagree with clan on that one, all systems do leak over time to some degree , the industry accepted norm is gas loss of around 15 percent per annum which is why your system should be checked every couple of years

Our S80 is 10 years old and hasn't been refilled once and it still cools perfectly! The AC system IS a sealed system - by law! It is illegal to let R134a or any other Tetrafluoroethanes into the envoirement. No manufacturer is allowed to calculate this into their systems... Dealerships aren't even allowed to let you drive off their property, if you have a leak in your system.

[jamesferns]

Originally Posted by Daim

Our S80 is 10 years old and hasn't been refilled once and it still cools perfectly! The AC system IS a sealed system - by law! It is illegal to let R134a or any other Tetrafluoroethanes into the envoirement. No manufacturer is allowed to calculate this into their systems... Dealerships aren't even allowed to let you drive off their property, if you have a leak in your system.

Im well aware of the fact a referigeration system is a sealed system, how could it function otherwise? and in theory should not lose any gas but in the real world they do leak over time especially when installed in vehicles with much of the pipework being flexi hoses which are never 100 per cent gas tight and allow a small amout of gas to permitate thrugh the walls

I got my system checked when i first got the car and was working perfectly howeever when the gas was removed and weighed it was 30 percent down, so id say if you had your car checked chances are you will have lost gas through "natural wastage"

[Clan]

Originally Posted by jamesferns

As far as vehicle systems are concerned i would have to disagree with clan on that one, all systems do leak over time to some degree , the industry accepted norm is gas loss of around 15 percent per annum which is why your system should be checked every couple of years

The average volvo system contains around 800 grams of R134a gas so you are saying that a loss of around 100 g of gas a year is normal ? Actualy that is illegal , the maximum legal loss of gas allowed is 40 g a year .. and that figure is getting less and less in the future on new platform cars due to enviromental regulations.
If the car lost 10% -15% of it's gas a year that would mean all volvo cars would need AC regassing in around 3 years as the efficiency falls right off with about half the weight of gas in the system , this simply isnt the case .


In practice Most volvo systems especialy on the old 400 and s40/v40 range last indefiniatly , you will still find old 400 and S/V40 on their original gas .
The larger swedish volvos do almost as well . If you are loosing gas you have a leak ... It is a sealed system , people say that gas leaks through the rubber hoses , this may account for leakage enough for the system not to work over a period of say 7 + years . It is very rare to find a volvo from
2000 and later with AC not working .
You say the system needs checking every 2 years . The only way to service it is to remove the gas and see how much comes out , then leak check and add the correct quantity when refilling . An expensive business if your AC is working entirely efficiently .. Volvo list no AC Maintenence at all ...

Due to leaking AC condensers on the S40/V50/C70 range from 2007-2009 there are many of those systems not working at the current moment though !

Clan ( ATA / IMI accredited AC service engineer )

[kwk]

Our Police Volvo's used to need re gassing every 18 month to 2 years.
When I bought my 98 S70 about 6 months ago, the aircon was not working. I had it re gassed this week and according to the printout, the amount recovered was NIL. It then took 750g. A leak test showed no leaks. It now works perfectly.

[andy_d]

all i can say is my S40 My2002, is on its orriginal gas fill, and the A/c IS cold as heck when its on, the Seal on the fill valves covers is intact. thats how i know.

so if its "supposed" to leak 10%-15% a year mine , at 10years old shouldnt work,, well it Does work and its Cold.

[VenomS40]

Originally Posted by Daim

Here the tips:
1. don't turn the A/C off for a long time. Use it at least once a week! Don't turn it off in winter, as it will remove the damp air in your car!
2. about 5 minutes before getting to your destination, turn the A/C off and turn the heating up a little bit! Even if it is 28°c in the shade outside, turn the A/C off and turn the heating up - this will dry the condenser off and kill all bacteria -> no smells possible.
3. if it smells, try the drying method first if it doesn't work: head to a workshop to get it done.
4. if you need a regas: don't be conned into buying the "leak additive". R134a will glow under UV light too...

If these tips are followed, you won't be suprised by high bills

Thanks for the tips. My AC is on all the time so is well used, unless I have the windows open I will turn it off.

As for tip number 2. If you never do this but the system is used all the time is this a must or can you get by without it as for me its just hassle to keep turning it on and off. I will try and remember to do it now and again while on a trip so kill off any bacteria or does it have to be at the end of every trip?