I've been having troubles with my AC lately where it's been working for about five to ten minutes then it's been getting warm. I took it to the shop and they initially thought it was a problem with the high side then they swapped that out and it has the same problem. Then they switched out the Fuel Injection Control Unit and it seemed to work fine... I don't know how long they tested it for, but I know it seems to work fine initially then it cuts out. They quoted about $1000 and change for it new and I don't feel like paying that. I would like some help locating this for a 1998 S70 non-turbo.

When I turn on the AC the engine drops in RPM like any other engine so I don't know what the problem is exactly. I'll try to go back to the shop and see if they'll let me drive around for a while with the other FICU in the car to see if that is indeed the problem.

I was also talking to one of the desk workers and they said that the compressor also can tend to over heat then shut off or simply blow hot air... is this true and if so I don't want to keep buying parts to find out that's not the problem...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Called the shop they said they had it running for about 15-20 minutes... So i guess that's it..?

 

Find a new shop- one that specializes in European cars or Volvos only. THEY seem to be throwing parts at it. Your compressor clutch probably needs shimmed (or rather, de- shimmed). It's a common issue- the compressor will run for a while, then when it cycles, it won't be able to kick back in because the plate it too far from the pulley. This is easy to test for- when the A/C starts getting warm, have someone nudge the clutch plate CAREFULLY with a smooth bar, and see if it kicks in. I'll bet it will- this isn't exactly an unusual problem on these cars.

 

It's a Volvo shop.... so...?
Alrighty i'll try that, but today it's been warm and hasn't been getting cold but that could also be cuz it was sitting in the sun for a couple of hours and i gave up after a minute.

This nudging you talk about.. like a crowbar on the side of the clutch should do it and we hold it there or once we tap it in and it engages we're good?

....And if that maybe so.. why did the AC work just fine with the new FICU in it..? or was it just by chance that it was cold?