My A/C is not working on my 97 850 R. When I turn it on on the dash nothing happens (no clicking on under the hood). We had the head of the car and I'm thinking maybe something did not get hooked up or we broke a wire or something. Told my daugheter and she said check the fuses first Dad. Which I have not done. Assuming fuses are ok have any idea where I should look for a lose wire?

 

The Pipe by the Firewall where they go in. Unplug and check for power at the wires with the A/C switch on.
If so then most likely you are low on Freon.

If no power then you have to trace back to the module inside(The a/c switches and *****)

 

I have power there. Should I take the white plug off the A/C unit and see if I have power there? How do I get that off? I'm talking about that white wire plug that sticks up under the power steering. I checked and it is connected, but that's all I did so far. We would have had those wires down there all bent around when we had the head off.

 

If you have power under the Hood at the Low pressure switch try to jump it with a peice of wire.
If the compressor kicks on then the Freon level is to Low and needs recharging.

Check the Low pressure switch connection first.
If you have power from both sides(Jumped) and it doesn't come on Probe the White wire at the compressor and check for power. If you have power there as well and it doesn't come on the compressor is bad.

But check the first thing first and let me know.

 

I don't know what you mean by jump the low pressure switch? The compressor does not come on when I turn the A/C on. I tried to get that white piece apart. It looks like it holds a fuse, but I'm not sure. Where is the low pressure switch. I usually don't mess with anything electrical and definitely do not mess with the A/C system, but I'm trying.

 

The Electrical switch in the Pipe by the Firewall on the passenger side. Unplug the connector. Then use a piece of wire and run from one side to the other. See if the compressor kicks on if it does then the freon is low.
Whe it is low the switch won't allow it to come on.

 

Not sure if it's good news or bad news, but it does kick on when I jump the switch. Which mean I am leaking freon somewhere. Guess I'll need to take it somewhere to get die put in to find the leak. I hate it when the A/C doesn't work. Think I should take it to a Volvo place or a place that does A/C work in general. Not real happy with the independent shop I have been taking the cars to. Every since I did all that work myself, they seem to just charge me an outrageous amount for next to nothing. Sure wish I could find somebody doing work on the side.

 

Sorry Im to far away!!! LOL

When was the last time it was charged?

Some cars will loose an average of 1/4 to 1/2 a LB a year and still no visible leaks.

 

I have no idea. I bought it last June and it worked fine last year. I've always been of the belief that if it leaks, something is wrong and it needs to be fixed. You should never have to recharge the system. Is it possible to recharge it myself?

 

Yes but you won't know exactly how much is in there.
Buy one Can from the Auto Parts store and put it in.

 

I bought a 14 oz. can that had 11 oz. of refrigerant and 3 oz. of lubricant and other stuff and put it in. The compressor kicked on and the A/C blew some fairly cool air, but not real cold. It eventually cooled the car down fine though. I bought another 14 oz. can that is refrigerant plus stop leak. Think I should put that one in too? The pressure was just over 30 after I put the 1st can in.

 

You can give it a shot it might not hold the entire thing.

 

A week later it quit working again. So it has a leak somewhere. I have not taken it anywhere yet, but I will probably have to. I'm tired of paying the Volvo places so much money. I'm thinking about taking it to a Meineke or someplace like that.

 

OUCH they may do worse.
I bet the Evaperator is leaking.

Get your Son-in-Law to help you change it out. I posted instructions on how to do it.

Damb I wish I was closer to help you out.

 

For as much trouble as I have been having, I should just drive it down to you, leave it, and fly home. Then you can call me when you're done and I'll come get it. I still haven't had a chance to change the lifters to see if that fixes the rough running, the SRS light is still on, the A/C doesn't work and now I have a bent wheel. But the car looks great and goes great when I push on the gas pedal.

When we went to Nashville the other weekend to get my sons V70R, my wife was driving my R for the first time and it started running real rough. She called me on the cell phone and said she thought the car was about to quit, what should she do. I asked if she had a clear road in front of her. She said yes and I said push on the gas. She said what? I said push the gas pedal. Her only response was that's weird. It smooths right out and takes off.

Anyway, how can I tell if it's the evaporator leaking? I read your instructions and that sound like a lot of work!

 

Do you know if dye was ever put in?
If so then get a black light and look under the car by the Cat. Converter and see if you see green on the body.
If not then try to get some and put it in then let it run out and check again.

 

P.S. If I had the room I would tell you to bring it on down.
I have 4 cars here already[:@] Trying to get rid of my Grand Marques.

 

Thanks tech. I was pretty much just kidding about bringing it down there. Nick said he would do the evaporator, but at his house not mine. I just had some minor skin cancer removed from the middle of my back so I'm not ready to work on cars yet. It's nothing serious, but I have 17 stitches between my sholder blades and it's not real comfortable. Not about to start climbing under cars right now.

Stay out of the sun, it's bad for you. I have had four of these things removed and they are from exposure to the sun when I was young.

 

Damb that Sucks Im glad you are ok though.
If he needs any pointers let me know or you can Call. You should still have my #.