S40 (New) AC : Air Con not Cold?

[iainmd]

Just for info, if anyone has the issue of no cold air and they don't hear the click of the magnetic clutch kicking in and out there are a number of removable shims on the clutch mechanism. With the removal of the required number of shims the gap can be adjusted (it seems it can change over time) and the magnetic clutch works again as expected. I had that with mine a couple of years ago.

The Volvo specialist I use has seen that happen on many S60s and V70s. Mine was the first P1 car they'd seen it on.

[jaygee]

Originally Posted by iainmd

Just for info, if anyone has the issue of no cold air and they don't hear the click of the magnetic clutch kicking in and out there are a number of removable shims on the clutch mechanism. With the removal of the required number of shims the gap can be adjusted (it seems it can change over time) and the magnetic clutch works again as expected. I had that with mine a couple of years ago.

The Volvo specialist I use has seen that happen on many S60s and V70s. Mine was the first P1 car they'd seen it on.

Big job?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by jaygee

Not sure if mine has run out of freon or if the condenser has gone or pipe is lose etc...

What is the round about cost of getting the condenser replaced?

approx £700 at a dealer , the condenser itself is nearly £400 .

[jaygee]

Originally Posted by Clan

approx £700 at a dealer , the condenser itself is nearly £400 .

I hope it just needs a top up of freon gas then!

[Norfolk Jim]

I had our condensor replaced by air con specialist. It seems they rot across the bottom due to their position. Main dealer wanted £590 to replace

He recommended not using a Volvo one as the same may happen in few years time. He obtained one with a 3 year guarantee from somewhere and said they were made better but also cheaper!! Amazingly the dealer said the same as they could only supply and fit genuine Volvo but said this make was better - total cost to replace £285!

Year down the line and all seems fine.

[jaygee]

Originally Posted by Norfolk Jim

I had our condensor replaced by air con specialist. It seems they rot across the bottom due to their position. Main dealer wanted £590 to replace

He recommended not using a Volvo one as the same may happen in few years time. He obtained one with a 3 year guarantee from somewhere and said they were made better but also cheaper!! Amazingly the dealer said the same as they could only supply and fit genuine Volvo but said this make was better - total cost to replace £285!

Year down the line and all seems fine.

Thanks for that. If you could find out which condenser you got fitted instead of the Volvo one, that would be handy to know, in case I do not it replacing.

Off to Kwik-Fit on payday and if they can't increase the lower temp by a certain percentage, they give you your money back for the work.

[sprout99]

I bought and fitted condenser myself last year after getting it filled twice and it losing gas

Advanced radiators supplied mine. New one is much thicker than one I removed.
Fitting is a bit of a chew and worth dropping out radiator and removing the crud trapped
Between rad intercooler and condenser.

Got it refilled for £25 when finished.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by jaygee

I hope it just needs a top up of freon gas then!

not really as the system is sealed and doesnt leak when all is ok , if it is empty in such a short time there will be a slow leak and it is now illegal for the licenced operator to refill without leak checking and repairing the leak ..

[jeffmasson]

Originally Posted by Clan

not really as the system is sealed and doesnt leak when all is ok , if it is empty in such a short time there will be a slow leak and it is now illegal for the licenced operator to refill without leak checking and repairing the leak ..

When you take to be refilled the machine they plug in vacuums out the old gas then dose a test to see if it holds vacuum then refills with gas and oil.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by jeffmasson

When you take to be refilled the machine they plug in vacuums out the old gas then dose a test to see if it holds vacuum then refills with gas and oil.

thats old proceedure now, since the law changed a couple of years ago you have to use oxygen free Nitrogen to PRESSURISE the system to around 13 bar to simulate the system in working conditions , it is very rare a vacuum test will find a leak unless there is an actual hole , with small leaks the vacuum will pull the split together and not show up as a leak .