I have the A/C with the "auto" climate control feature. The other day,my wife told me as she started the car,that the lights above the "compressor and recirculate" switches,started "blinking". I'm not sure what that code indicates.The following day as it was being started again,same blinking then a brief amount of "smoke" came out of the fan switch,then today I checked it again and the fan will only run when the "dash lights" are on? I found this out by accident,as it was dark when I was testing.

My Volvo parts guy,told me the fan switch wasn't available by itself,only as the complete cluster (thermostat's,diverter and the switches) which was quite exspensive ($727.)

I have several Volvo OEM repair books,as I do most of the maintenance and repair on this car since new. I'm baffled by this situation???

Any suggestions?

Appreciate the guidence!

Larry

 

Since you have Electronic Climate Control (ECC) it is a control module and you cannot replace just the switch.
Another quiestion when you turn it on will it run for a sec then stop and flash.Then the blower motor will not turn on till you slide the switch to off then on again?

Some times the blower motor will go bad and cause the lights to flash.

 

Here is a link to a bunch of those whole a/c, heater control modules used.
http://car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi

 

BTW, what kind of wood work do you do? I majored in furniture design and ran my own business designing and building modern furniture for two years. Check my site, www.purposefurniture.com

 

Knightrider,
Thanx for your info. I tried to link to carpart.com , but it wouldn't open? Will try again later,gotta go fetch lumber.

Nice website and products!

I've done all sorts of stuff,furniture,cabinets,ET center,custom truck interiors,light production and would like to pursue tabletop
displays fixtures. Not sure how to market myself.Intend to build a website too,just haven't got the training yet.

So have you had any problems with your 850's A/C?

I've done alot of work on ours over the years,feel like it should be rebuilt by now,just concerned with the aging of all the bells and whistles?

If you care to discuss woodwork further,email me@ AppliedDesigns@sbcglobal.net

Thanx again,
Larry

 

The site is car-parts.com. Look under heat& a/c control in the menu. There are a bunch with the most expensive being $350.

 

Anyone have any clues how to open the dash area that contains the A/C controls?

How would you test the circuitry of that panel to determine the problem? I'm wondering if the sliding fan switch is soldered in place and could be removed and replaced,if that's the problem?

Would you know a source for locating a replacement switch?

Thought about a used unit from a Salvage yard,but curious if I'm inheriting another problem waiting to happen?

Appreciate any replies,

Thanx

 

Hello Tech,

Did you recieve my email response to your suggestion a couple of days ago?
I'm new at this forum,thus responded to your email,expecting you would recieve it?
Appreciate your reply.

Also,would you reveiw my new post today on that same topic?

Thanx
Woodworker

 

If you remove the radio you can stick your hand in and push the ****rol module out from pushing on the back.Be careful and you might want to wrap a rag on your hand and wrist.Sometimes it wiil let go and cut you up.Then you can open it up and look at it.

Im not sure if i got the E-mail can you refresh my memory?

 

When I entered my original post,I checked the notification box for email responses and received your reply.Thinking if I responded
to it,it would go directly back to you,but I never got a reply or saw it listed on the forum?

Anyway, I was about my symptoms of the problem,beyond your question.

The lights blinked,then smoke came out of the switch area,next water came out form under the blower motor?

I assumed that the condesation drain could be clogged,but wasn't.

Now the irony is, the fan will run at full speed,no matter what settings it's on, ONLY when the dash lights are set to there max level? When you adjust the reostat,back to zero,the fan shuts off.
Up to this time,I can't tell that the compressor is on or not. Usually I watch the tach for the variation,but don't see a change?

Now,I wonder if there are any risks,if in fact the comp is cooling,could I run with the lights on,tempoarly,to have the A/C,until I can get back to it in a few days? (Self employed and behind on a job)

Do you think a "used" unit is worth the gamble? Think the fan switch could be replaced,if that's the problem? Got an idea how to test the panel,with a multi tester?

Appreciate your advice !!!!!!

 

The drain might have been clogged and shorted out the blower motor resistor and then shorted out the module.
If you have nothing but high speed the resistor is bad.
Make sure the drain is not clogged.
I have never seen the switch replaced.
A used module would be worth the gamble if you ask me.
Sorry I didn't get the e-mail about it.
If need be from now on also PM me if you need me to look at a post.

When the lights are on that usually shuts down the blower motor if there is a problem with the motor.

 

Ok,thanx for the info. I'll look into that resistor,before going into the module. Do you know if a later model S70 is compatible
with my 93 850?
If so, I'm thinking a younger unit may have more "life" left it than a 10-12 yr old unit?
Any thoughts on this one?

Thanx again,
Woodworker

 

I don't think they are the same.I think they would only be the same till 97.

 

Do you think the resitor,would interupt a signal for the compressor to start,thru a relay or the module?
I've noticed when the fan is running at high speed,I turn on the compressor switch and can't tell if compressor is running or not due to no indication on the tach? There is any cooling. I plan to check it tonight with a friend and some guages,to see if the comp
clutch is working and if it has a charge?

Appreciate your reply.

 

The resistor I believe doen't cut off the compressor if it goes bad.
Just look at the compressor and see if it is working.If it isn't then try jumping the plug with a peice of wire and see if it comes on if it does then it might be low on freon.