2008 C70 air con dead

[dme123]

Just driven home in my new (to me) 2008 C70 D5 SE Lux manual. Brilliant car, and it really shows up what nails the other two I've test driven are despite their very low mileages. Astonished by how good the Dynaudio system is!

Air con isn't working, although the seller says it was working but weak a while ago and I believe him. I gather there have been issues with condensers on these, I was wondering if anyone knows if Volvo are helping out with the cost on 6+ year old cars or if I'm on my own...

[cheshired5]

It might be explained by my comment here http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...90#post1695690

[gswede]

FYI

It could be a mechanical issue, my AC stopped working and I found the nut holding the compressor axle had come off (was missing). Thus the pulley and ac clutch assembly had travelled outwards, rendering the el magnetic clutch useless.

Almost unbelievable how I found out, story goes:

Noticed aircon was dead, booket time at volvo dealer for an ac service thinking the coolant gas level was low beyond it working. The car had not had a refill since new (6yrs).

As I had no means of leaving the car at dealer I was helping myself to free coffee and danish in the dealer waiting area. 4 hours later technician came out looking distressed. Said he found nothing wrong, he`d emptied the coolant gas and re-filled, sure enough, it was slightly below what it should have been but nothing close to constitute an non working AC. He had also checked all wiring including eliminating possible faulty pressostats and switches.
I asked if I could have a look myself, as the car was still on the hoist. Sure no problem was the reply.
Once under the car, I noticed the AC pulley having travelled a full inch if not more, out of the compressor. On closer inspection I found the senter nut holding the assy completely gone.

An embarrased technician said that ouch, I would need a new compressor and quoted me 950 pounds including labour for replacing it.

I asked if he would be as kind as to find me a nut suitable for purpose and a rubber mallet. No! That he could not do, blatantly staing that Volvo does not deal in fixing damaged parts - replacements only.

I left the dealer, not paying them a single dime.

Went home, put the car on a jack stand, found a nut, a piece of wood, banged the assy in place, smeared some thread lock on and thightene my nut.
Started car, fully working AC!!!!!

Drove back to dealer and bursted in to workshop supervisors office and gave him a proper piece of my mind. Including a massive overhaul for his tech not even mentioning the obvious problem caused by having driven unknow amount of miles with the auxillery belt completely out of alignment.
****wits the lot of them.

On the very same day I drove off to another garage and booked tme for belt and tensioner replacement.

Moral to story, at least check the ac visually before spending hard earned cash at the dealer.

[dme123]

Wow, that is interesting! As it stands I had it gassed today, held vacuum for 20 minutes and the machine said "no leak" for what that is worth. It's blowing cold so that tells me the components can work if there is gas, it just remains to be seen if the gas escapes!

It doesn't seem particularly brain chillingly cold like my V70 though.