Air Con: - A/C Clutch Loose

AidXC90 · Oct 8th, 2019, 16:17

'55 reg XC90SE D5 AWD auto.
Hello Forum,
Today I smelled smoke while driving. Stopped and looked under the bonnet to find the insulation pad that's usually on the driver's (UK driver's side) of the engine bay had detached, was touching the A/C clutch and was in fact burning slowly.
I pulled the pad out and managed to put out the flames, checked visually for any other damage (found none) and drove on, thinking nothing of it. Later, after being parked for an hour or so I lifted the bonnet to check things again and I noticed the clutch for the A/C compressor was loose and would sort of flap and wobble around when the compressor engaged - caused a rattling noise which alerted me to a possibly greater problem than a bit of burnt padding. Luckily I was near a local Volvo agent so I stopped for an investigation.
They looked into the engine bay and confirmed it was a faulty A/C clutch, but couldn't confirm yet what had caused it or what the remedy was - though I was warned a new A/C compressor might be required. They refused to start the engine again once I'd switched it off after showing them the problem, as if the clutch finally gave way and snapped the serpentine belt, serious damage to the engine might ensue. I've heard of that happening before so I agreed to leave the car with them for them to investigate further. They insisted on pushing the car from their forecourt into the workshop to avoid starting the engine again.
I'm not sure if the clutch worked loose and grabbed the insulation pad which was always a bit loose, or if the insulation pad fell onto the clutch and caused it to work loose, but I suspect the former as I can't see how a loose, soft piece of insulation could cause that sort of damage to a piece of spinning metal. I'd like to know from the forum a) if anyone has experienced an A/C clutch letting go before and b) since the A/C is otherwise working well, is it possible to only replace the clutch and not the whole compressor?

XJSDriver · Oct 8th, 2019, 16:57

Not had an issue with my XC90 clutch - now on 115,000 but to your question the answer is yes, you can replace the clutch, is pretty straightforward job; am interested to see what they charge for this work.

binty · Oct 8th, 2019, 22:00

Hi
Wonder if it is the clutch bolt that has come loose, just needs re tightening, or if its broken?

If its broken it depends what parts are available separately, the whole unit, the clutch only, or the clutch/pulley/coil. With our Nissan Juke the clutch/pulley/coil was available but cost almost as much as the full unit.

Volvo dealers will only advise on the correct repair, i.e. new parts that come with the full two year guarantee. However if you ask them to fit a second hand part supplied by you they can just charge labour and give no warranty. They will not source the part and cannot suggest this, but you can.

If its just the clutch plate you can probably swap it without even having to drop the gas.

May save you a few quid, (or in my case several hundred).

Tannaton · Oct 8th, 2019, 22:34

- I doubt a Volvo dealer would fit a second hand part supplied by the customer unless there were exceptional circumstances.

- I think Volvo will only replace the whole compressor, not just the clutch?

- Sometimes if the bearing in the clutch siezes it spins on the compressor flange and ruins the compressor.

But yes it is possible and relatively easy for a competent person to replace the clutch assembly in situ without having to de-gas the system.

AidXC90 · Oct 8th, 2019, 22:38

Thanks chaps. I believe clutches are available on their own - found new Thermotec ones on ebay for between about £50 to £70 - but I'm not yet sure what's gone wrong on mine, so can't say if that's all it'll need.
I await Volvo's callback with bated breath. I shall report back to the forum when I know more.

seandodwell · Oct 9th, 2019, 16:23

Hi, I had the same issue on my 2007 XC90 SE, the AC clutch was F*** when I bought the car, it had crap covering the whole side of the engine bay, in brown fine powder(clutch material from slipping clutch). Mines a 3.2 Petrol engine. Looked around for spare clutche but could not find a matching one (theyre lots of different types!). in the end I bought a whole new compressor for around £280.00 exact one I was replacing. I got a mobile AC guy to come de-gas, replaced the compressor myself(inc new belt and idler pulleys)A bit fiddly, but do-able. Then got same guy to re-gas, total cost about £450. Volvo wanted to charge more than that just to replace the pulley!! Now I have lovely cold AC and a much quieter engine.!!

8FK 351 322-171 HELLA Compressor air conditioning

From Premier Line on ebay. I know its a bit extreme, but if you end up facing a massive bill from Volvo might be an option. Good luck let us know what Volvo say...?

Tannaton · Oct 9th, 2019, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by AidXC90

Thanks chaps. I believe clutches are available on their own - found new Thermotec ones on ebay for between about £50 to £70 - but I'm not yet sure what's gone wrong on mine, so can't say if that's all it'll need.
I await Volvo's callback with bated breath. I shall report back to the forum when I know more.

You will possibly be able to get just the clutch as an aftermarket part but I expect Volvo will only supply complete compressors. I could be wrong but their philosophy is a single, first time fix.

AidXC90 · Oct 9th, 2019, 17:48

Hi again chaps and thanks for the replies.
Here is what I've discovered. Volvo will fit new customer supplied compressors and clutches but will only guarantee their work, not the part. They wont fit used items. Their labour charges and sundries such as O-rings and gas etc. are about £450 for the compressor job or £650 for the clutch. If they supply the components as well, the costs increase to £1200 and £930 respectively

. So once I've had the car towed back to my house, I'm going to do the job myself after getting a mobile chap to de-gas the system.
I suspect I'll need a new compressor since the way it's rattling around I'm presuming its shaft or the hole it fits into in the compressor body is broken. I can't say for sure yet without looking at it but I'm assuming a worst case scenario for now. I guess it makes sense to replace the pulleys and belt etc. while I'm in there...
I'll let you know how I get on.

XJSDriver · Oct 9th, 2019, 21:41

Good idea - changing compressor is fairly straightforward; if just clutch you may need special tools so suggest you get the mobile chap to give you a quote - you might get a very nice surprise.

AidXC90 · Oct 9th, 2019, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJSDriver

Good idea - changing compressor is fairly straightforward; if just clutch you may need special tools so suggest you get the mobile chap to give you a quote - you might get a very nice surprise.

Thanks for the tip XJSDriver. I'll make enquiries...

Oct 8th, 2019, 16:17	#1
AidXC90 Junior Member Last Online: Apr 12th, 2024 20:35 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tonbridge	A/C Clutch Loose '55 reg XC90SE D5 AWD auto. Hello Forum, Today I smelled smoke while driving. Stopped and looked under the bonnet to find the insulation pad that's usually on the driver's (UK driver's side) of the engine bay had detached, was touching the A/C clutch and was in fact burning slowly. I pulled the pad out and managed to put out the flames, checked visually for any other damage (found none) and drove on, thinking nothing of it. Later, after being parked for an hour or so I lifted the bonnet to check things again and I noticed the clutch for the A/C compressor was loose and would sort of flap and wobble around when the compressor engaged - caused a rattling noise which alerted me to a possibly greater problem than a bit of burnt padding. Luckily I was near a local Volvo agent so I stopped for an investigation. They looked into the engine bay and confirmed it was a faulty A/C clutch, but couldn't confirm yet what had caused it or what the remedy was - though I was warned a new A/C compressor might be required. They refused to start the engine again once I'd switched it off after showing them the problem, as if the clutch finally gave way and snapped the serpentine belt, serious damage to the engine might ensue. I've heard of that happening before so I agreed to leave the car with them for them to investigate further. They insisted on pushing the car from their forecourt into the workshop to avoid starting the engine again. I'm not sure if the clutch worked loose and grabbed the insulation pad which was always a bit loose, or if the insulation pad fell onto the clutch and caused it to work loose, but I suspect the former as I can't see how a loose, soft piece of insulation could cause that sort of damage to a piece of spinning metal. I'd like to know from the forum a) if anyone has experienced an A/C clutch letting go before and b) since the A/C is otherwise working well, is it possible to only replace the clutch and not the whole compressor?

Oct 8th, 2019, 22:00	#3
binty Senior Member Last Online: Apr 9th, 2021 16:08 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: S****HORPE	Clutch can be as expensive as compressor Hi Wonder if it is the clutch bolt that has come loose, just needs re tightening, or if its broken? If its broken it depends what parts are available separately, the whole unit, the clutch only, or the clutch/pulley/coil. With our Nissan Juke the clutch/pulley/coil was available but cost almost as much as the full unit. Volvo dealers will only advise on the correct repair, i.e. new parts that come with the full two year guarantee. However if you ask them to fit a second hand part supplied by you they can just charge labour and give no warranty. They will not source the part and cannot suggest this, but you can. If its just the clutch plate you can probably swap it without even having to drop the gas. May save you a few quid, (or in my case several hundred). __________________ Binty XC90 D5 SE Auto (Black) Mazda MX5 Sport Tec (Black) Mercedes SLK 250d 9G auto AMG line (Black) Previous Volvos C30 Rdesign 2.0D (black), C30 Rdesign 1.6D (black), S60 T5 (black)

Oct 8th, 2019, 22:34	#4
Tannaton Bungling Amateur Last Online: Today 10:46 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Beverley, East Yorks	- I doubt a Volvo dealer would fit a second hand part supplied by the customer unless there were exceptional circumstances. - I think Volvo will only replace the whole compressor, not just the clutch? - Sometimes if the bearing in the clutch siezes it spins on the compressor flange and ruins the compressor. But yes it is possible and relatively easy for a competent person to replace the clutch assembly in situ without having to de-gas the system. __________________ 2011 XC90 D5 Executive 2003 C70 T5 GT 2012 Ford Ranger XL SC 1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500 1976 Massey Ferguson 135

Oct 9th, 2019, 17:48	#8
AidXC90 Junior Member Last Online: Apr 12th, 2024 20:35 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tonbridge	Hi again chaps and thanks for the replies. Here is what I've discovered. Volvo will fit new customer supplied compressors and clutches but will only guarantee their work, not the part. They wont fit used items. Their labour charges and sundries such as O-rings and gas etc. are about £450 for the compressor job or £650 for the clutch. If they supply the components as well, the costs increase to £1200 and £930 respectively. So once I've had the car towed back to my house, I'm going to do the job myself after getting a mobile chap to de-gas the system. I suspect I'll need a new compressor since the way it's rattling around I'm presuming its shaft or the hole it fits into in the compressor body is broken. I can't say for sure yet without looking at it but I'm assuming a worst case scenario for now. I guess it makes sense to replace the pulleys and belt etc. while I'm in there... I'll let you know how I get on.

Oct 9th, 2019, 21:41	#9
XJSDriver XJS Driver Last Online: Today 17:21 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Hitchin	Good idea - changing compressor is fairly straightforward; if just clutch you may need special tools so suggest you get the mobile chap to give you a quote - you might get a very nice surprise. Last edited by XJSDriver; Oct 9th, 2019 at 21:45.

Oct 8th, 2019, 16:57	#2
XJSDriver XJS Driver Last Online: Today 17:21 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Hitchin	Not had an issue with my XC90 clutch - now on 115,000 but to your question the answer is yes, you can replace the clutch, is pretty straightforward job; am interested to see what they charge for this work.

Oct 8th, 2019, 22:38	#5
AidXC90 Junior Member Last Online: Apr 12th, 2024 20:35 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tonbridge	Thanks chaps. I believe clutches are available on their own - found new Thermotec ones on ebay for between about £50 to £70 - but I'm not yet sure what's gone wrong on mine, so can't say if that's all it'll need. I await Volvo's callback with bated breath. I shall report back to the forum when I know more.

Oct 9th, 2019, 16:23	#6
seandodwell Junior Member Last Online: Yesterday 15:14 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London	Hi, I had the same issue on my 2007 XC90 SE, the AC clutch was F*** when I bought the car, it had crap covering the whole side of the engine bay, in brown fine powder(clutch material from slipping clutch). Mines a 3.2 Petrol engine. Looked around for spare clutche but could not find a matching one (theyre lots of different types!). in the end I bought a whole new compressor for around £280.00 exact one I was replacing. I got a mobile AC guy to come de-gas, replaced the compressor myself(inc new belt and idler pulleys)A bit fiddly, but do-able. Then got same guy to re-gas, total cost about £450. Volvo wanted to charge more than that just to replace the pulley!! Now I have lovely cold AC and a much quieter engine.!! 8FK 351 322-171 HELLA Compressor air conditioning From Premier Line on ebay. I know its a bit extreme, but if you end up facing a massive bill from Volvo might be an option. Good luck let us know what Volvo say...?

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