I have the car (1998 T-5) since February and used AC only couple of times. It worked fine. Today I noticed that the AC barely cools air. It becomes slightly more effective when it cools only air that circulate in car, i.e. when intake form outside is closed. But still AC does not work near as good as you would expect from normally functioning AC. What I need to check first? How can I tell if it needs to be charged with freon or it has bad evaporator? Many Thanks

 

If it is low you should hear the Compressor cycling on and off.

You should have an A/C service done and Dye installed. Then when it leaks out again you will know exactly where the leak is.

 

Tech, Thank you. Yes it is cycling once every 3 seconds and the freon pipe (black steel pipe that goes through firewall) is ice cold. Do you know any good link that tells how to re-charge freon.

 

Try this site.
http://www.autoacsystems.com/

 

Tech,

Thank you. It sucked entire can (19 oz) and the compressor stopped cycling. The pressure stays around 40 psi. Cooling fan turns on. Most importantly AC is back and cools very well! Don't know how long it will last though, but it is 3rd day since I charged it. Now I am faceing serious job: Approaching 140.000 and decided to replace the timing belt. Will start to dig through the old posts now!

 

Maybe this will help.
http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ic/ic60326.htm

First I would start off by Jacking up the Passenger side and securing on a Jackstand.
Then remove the R/F tire.Next remove the 1 Plastic nut holding the Wheel well to the Body.You will see where it folds. I use a pair of Needle Nose Vise Grips to hold it folded.
Then move to up top. Remove the Serpentine belt.You will need a Tool to move the Tensioner.The Square hole is like a 3/4 drive. You should also be able to use a pry Bar to move the Tensioner and remove the belt. If you look closely at the Tensioner you will see a hole there is also a hole behind the outer part. You can slide a small nail or something like that in the hole to hold the Tensioner open.
Remove the 2 screws holding the Tensioner onto the Bracket.

Next remove the Top cover that says Volvo __ Valve. There is T-30 screws holding it on.
Next remove the Back Bracket holding the Gas line to the Bracket. T-25 will take the top half of the bracket off.
Then remove the one 12mm screw holding the long cover to the front of the engine. The cover will slide up to be removed.

Next take your 11/4 socket and turn the engine ove to get the Top marks on the Cam pulleys lined up. They should be in like 2 and 10 or close to that. You will see notches in the top cover that is still on where the pulleys will line up with.

If you Have access to Air tools remove the nut holding the Crank pulley on then remove the 4 10mm screws. Take a Dead Blow hammer or a Heavy rubber mallet and Wack the pulley a couple of times and it should come off. Then it will look like in the picture. You can also see the lower timing mark in the picture. That will help you know where it is. You will have to make sure it is lined up from the top.Kind on hard to see but you can see it.


Once you know it is all lined up remove the Tensioner there is 2 12mm screws holding it on.
Then the Belt will slide off. You will need to compress the tensioner and use a Pin or Nail or something like that to hold it closed.
Install new belt and everything else in reverse order.
Tip I would replace the Idler and Tensioner pulleys.

Once you have done it a time or 2 you will have it all down pat.
Sorry no more pics all I have so far. A little hard to get pics with Bosses over the shoulder at work.

Any more quiestions feel free to ask.

 

Tech,

Thank you. Your help in indispensable!

 

Let me know how it goes.