Hi guys I'm new so hopefully I am posting this in the right place. I have a 01 Volvo S80 with 169,000 miles. I just got the car about 6 months ago so I don't know much about what the previous owner did. When I bought the car the a/c did not work, it will not turn on at the panel in the car. I'm not sure if it is electrical or maybe the compressor. If you need more info let me know. Any advise is greatly appreciated, I want to take it in but I want to have an idea of what might be wrong so I don't get ripped off.

P.s. The previous did say it used to turn on sometimes, also I have checked and replaced all the fuses and still no luck

Thanks

 

I had troubles last summer with my A/C, and found a lot of potential answers on this forum. One of the easier checks that you can start with is to see if the clutch can hold the pully once it's moved in close enough. With engine running and A/C on, use a broom handle and gently nudge the compressor pully in towards the compressor and see if it engages and holds. Cold air will blow if the system is okay. One of the more common problems on this forum is the clutch will disengage and the pully moves away from the compressor. This could indicate an electromagnetic deal where the magnetic field is too weak to hold the pully in the engaged position. Age and heat degrade magnets. Search the forum for "ghetto shim" or "A/C shimming" to learn how to shim the pully so that it's closer to the compressor. This worked for me along with a refridgerant evac and refill.

I still have a problem (I believe this is the culprit) with the computer getting faulty readings from the evaporator temperature sensor being too cold and shutting off the compressor because the computer thinks the coils will ice over. That's for another day of trouble shooting...