440 Airco

Quick question,

when shutting off the engine, with the airco turned on should there be a hissing coming from under the bonnet? Airco appears to be working, although cool, not cold.

On another note, just spend 22 euros at volvo today having the exhaust re-hung at the back. All the clonkings I was putting down to suspension bushes were infact the exhaust hitting the body work - I only found out as yesterday the rubber mount failed completly, new mount and so far n more knocks...

Stu

Aircon:
Have you noticed a damp patch in the passenger foot well? Could be related to the aircon drain being blocked. This is a small black "L" shaped rubber tube inside the engine compartment (about 2.5cm long). You can see it protruding from a position near the middle of the metal structure that divides the engine compartment from the passenger compartment with the "L" shape pointing downwards. It simply pulls off but can get full of gunk. Clean it out with a wire coat hanger and replace. This should stop your hissing sound and improve the efficiency of your aircon.

Cheers I'll give it a go tonight, although there is no damp patch (yet).

Stu

[pettaw]

If it is only running cool, it might just be a bit low on gas, or the climate thermostat might be cutting the compressor off too early. Don't take it to Volvo, but take it to a good air con specialist.

Stupid question, do you use the air con regularly, like once a week for ten minutes, even in winter. This will stop the hoses drying out and perhaps starting to leak. It won't stop failure of evaporators, but it will keep compressors and hoses lubricated.

Andy

I generally use the car one or 2 times a month and always run the airco just to keep it running.

Next q, does anyone know a decent airo specialist in North Holland????

Cheers

Stu

Hi,
Good advice from Andy above. I take it checking for a block in the little hose in the engine compartment hasn't helped (thought I would start with the easiest and cheapest check - which worked for me).

A good tip for winter is to use your aircon to demist the car. Keeps it in regular use and is quicker than using the heater (honest!)
regards
paul

Hey All,

Just checked for the little tube, where exactly is it, I've looked on the bulk head and can't find it all.....

I'd rather do the cheaper option first as there is no point spendiing money if it's not needed - that can go towards getting my other car back on the road. lol.

During winter I use the airco for demisting - it's almost instant.

Thanks again guys
Stu

Having seen this post, the drain tube may be the cause of my problem(see my posting). I can't find the drain tube either. Where exactly is it?
Ps mine makes gurgling noises as well but it seems to come from under the dash & the aircon works OK(apart from the water in the front footwells!)

Drove the 30 miles to work this morning instead of taking the bike and used the airco all the way, it seems to get cool straight away, and then after about 15 - 20 miles it gets cold. Is that okay, or is that bad?

Cheers

Stu

(God I miss the simplicity of the spit.........)

This is where to find the drain on a 1.8i 460 1995 model:
Standing at the front of the car locate the battery (right hand side as you look at the car). To the left of that is the aircon accumulator. Follow the top metal hose from this to the bulkhead at the rear of the engine compartment. At approximately 5'oclock to where this hose enters the bulkhead (at about 10 cm (5 ish inches) away) is another metal hose entering the bulkhead. Approx 12 cm (6 ish inches) directly beneath this second hose is the drain for the ac. It is a black "L" shaped tube and it pulls straight off the bulkhead. Give it a good clean with a bent coat hanger or something.