Well, at the start of this summer I had noticed the Air Conditioning would take a while to get cold..compressor was cycling often. Got a can with seal built in, got it up to 35psi...ran like a champ. Recently I had to fill it up a bit more again, but after only 2 weeks I notice now the compressor is going on and then instantly back off. Luckily where I am it's not going to be hot from here on out until next year...but still would like to know what everyone thinks the issue may be here/what I should check?

*Some more info: I put the can/gauge back on the system. When off it reads 35, but soon as the compressor engages it's dropping to near 15 and shutting back off rather quickly. I gave it what the can had left, it's staying on slightly longer but I need more...this obviously indicates a leak. The valve had indications of a dye once added the first time I filled this up. Another question I have, are there any problem points in our A/C system that leak normally? (as in with age)

 

It can leak anywhere but the evaporator near the fan is a common leak point. The tough thing about that is, the entire dash will have to come out.

If you put leak detection in the system you can pull the resistor and check for a leak.

 

I was afraid of that. I had done some reading online, plus, it seems there was a leak detective put in the system before I got it...and I would only surmise that they couldn't figure it out and left it alone since it still had a leak when I got it. At one time after filling it, I saw a mist kind of like smoke when the a/c was blowing cold from the vents. The system as I had previously posted in another thread, has an awkward smell to it at times. This would only lead me to believe indeed the evaporator is leaking. Do you have a set of videos on how to remove the dash? What's the estimated hours to do this? I can obviously wait until Spring where I am.

 

*bump* Still wondering if anyone has the info on how to do this?

 

I don't have the instructions, but I would agree it's the evaporator. They are very, very common on that car.

As for how long it takes, that depends on your tools and ability. I can do then in two hours, but I've probably done 20 of them. I would budget at least 7 hours.

 

I found 1 source;
http://www.woodjoiner.com/volvo/VolvoEvapReplace.pdf

Pretty sure there is another out there that I have seen. I will have to do this on my 850, so I have kept an eye on this.

 

Thank you!

 

Videos? Did you search YouTube?

 

Thank you once again sir!