Please help, women in need lol!!

[LucieDom]

Right now I have your attention, can anyone please shed some light on the following prob with our S60 T5 2001...

Our air con hasnt been working properly and we had major probs with car overheating.. Anyway took the car to Volvo and found out that there is a recall out on the whole fan unit (the one that sits just behind the grill). They replaced it all and there were no more probs with it over heating.

But, the air con is still not working, mate plugged his laptop in and and it came up with a fault with the air cooling sensor, I THINK, im a typical women and cant quite remember.

Basically what happens with the air con is it intially comes on for about 6min then goes warm. I spend my whole time turning it on and off, sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt. I CAN hear the compressor click in, but not sure all the time cos i cant check whilst driving along obviously!!


So got a guy round and got it regassed thinking it was that.. nope, I watched him drain it and then refill it, he added a flourecent dye so that we could spot any leaks there are none.


So.. took it back to Volvo they reckon they have done diagnostic.. but they cant be sure of the faults thats brought up because you can get them from going over a bump in the road. They say they have cleared them and will check it when we come in for next service??????? What???? And I have to pay them £65 an hour for them to tell me they cant trust the diagnostic readings... OH and by the way THEY reckon its the compressor and they will fit us a new one for £700 + VAT????? Can anyone please offer any advice, what pob may be? Are Volvo trying to con us?


Pretty please help, im not going to pick it up until you guys have shared your knowledge with me ha ha ha !!


Lucie x

[Mrsmopp]

Hi Lucy welcome to the forum. Where abouts are you as we may have a specialist in your area that you may find a lot more help than the local stealer?

x

[LucieDom]

Hiya,

Were in Dorking, Surrey. My hubby has just been down there in uniform to strike a deal (hes old bill) and didnt work lol. Wouldnt mind but he runs an auto crime team... well just hope they dont get any of their cars nicked!! Still convinced they are conning us

[Wobbly Dave]

Sounds like mine last week. My aircon was regassed - it ran cold for the first 10 mins then gradually started blowing warmer and warmer. Turns out I had a leaky condenser - which is the front most one of the radiator pack. I got a second hand one from Salvo for not many pennies and fitted it (took me & Justin about 45 mins). I am having it regassed again this eves and hopefully it will be right.
Sadly as the condenser is at the very front it is more susceptible to damage from stones, and because the system runs at high pressure (~250psi) it will only take a small snick to cause the symptoms you describe.


Suppose we out to find out if the pump is working (you can usually hear the electromagnetic clutch clicking in and out when the A/C is running). I hope you can hear it too. Otherwise you may have a faulty evaporator.

I suggest that you get an aircon specialist to look at it. My guy - Richard - is a geezer and diagnosed my fault pretty much straight away.

[Wobbly Dave]

Oh yes if I hadn't already said - :welcome:

[siamblue]

Hi Lucie, I had the same problems but someone said to me it was aircon clutch adjustment as it is supposed to be at 40 thou, I meaasured mine and it is 52 thou, So i know it needs a shim taken out, Is yours a high mileage car? As this seems to be the case with the clutches needing adjustment,

Welcome Gary

[lance]

Hi Lucie, Shame you are not in the Midlands!
I had my Aircon clutch replaced at 127k when I bought the car under warrenty, and had it done at David Pengally Autos in Nottingham I was lucky
the 2nd hand Volvo DeaIer Nicholas Fletcher of Somercotes Derbyshire,(Recomended) gets on well with DPA!
I hope you find a good Aircon specialist/ independent in your area.

[LucieDom]

The car has done about 110 miles, so can anyone recomend anyone. I dont mind travelling Surrey/London/Kent and about 50 miles outwards from there?

I have told the dealership not to do any work on her and get hubby to pick up until we can find some one to have a look. Its such a pain because we have a young baby and its too hot to take her anywhere at the mo without air con

[siamblue]

The car has done about 110 miles, so can anyone recomend anyone. I dont mind travelling Surrey/London/Kent and about 50 miles outwards from there?

I have told the dealership not to do any work on her and get hubby to pick up until we can find some one to have a look. Its such a pain because we have a young baby and its too hot to take her anywhere at the mo without air con

Braydons on Dalston is where i got my aircon sorted out, Plus they have access to new and secondhand spares, They will give you the option of either as well Very friendly and won't rip you off,

Gary

[nikgallagher]

I have similar problems with my 850 at the mo, and am planning on going to the local independant near me. He's based at the North Cheam crossroads and has been spot on every time I've been there. Would recommend him for normal work as he's ex-volvo and has got all the computer stuff, but he's also an air-con specialist so definately worth a go. Not too far from you in Dorking either.

GB Autos - Independent Volvo and air conditioning servicing specialists
16a Cheam Common
Worcester Park
Surrey KT4 8RW
tel: 020 8330 6090

Good luck!!

[steveT5]

Hi Lucie, Shame you are not in the Midlands!
I had my Aircon clutch replaced at 127k when I bought the car under warrenty, and had it done at David Pengally Autos in Nottingham I was lucky
the 2nd hand Volvo DeaIer Nicholas Fletcher of Somercotes Derbyshire,(Recomended) gets on well with DPA!
I hope you find a good Aircon specialist/ independent in your area.

Off topic Lance i know, but i bought my first t5 from Nicholas Fletcher. the air con packed up after 3 weeks. He told me that the warranty didn't cover the air con, and i was on my own. went back to him with the backing of Derbyshire trading standards. He still refused to rectify the fault but gave me a full refund on the vehicle. 24hrs later the car was back on the forecourt at the same price i had paid with an extra 1500 miles on the clock and a known aircon fault ! I later found out from his merchanic that they had had the car re gassed a couple of days before i picked it up. So from me, definetly not recomended. Funny how two people can have such different experiences with the same dealer ! :icon_soap

[nikgallagher]

Braydons on Dalston...

You're soon in the 4 figure club Gary...

[lance]

Wow cos he told me about the fault when I bought it and said he would let DPA sort it , how strange!
You must of helped improve his customer care skills mate, when did you buy the car Steve?

[steveT5]

Sept 04 mate, I assume you got yours later than that ? It would be nice to know that his level of service had improved. It was a real shame cos i loved the car, much higher spec than the one i have now, Climate, cruise, sunroof, elec seats, heated seats, tracs off option. all of which i dont have now !!!

[lance]

July 2004 mate, must of been the shock of buying a brand new AC clutch for mine , unfortunatly for you.

[LucieDom]

Thats not far at all, over in croydon all the time anyway. hubby is at Volvo now picking up the car so will see what they say

[Mrsmopp]

Thats not far at all, over in croydon all the time anyway. hubby is at Volvo now picking up the car so will see what they say

Good luck! let us know how you get on!

x

[steveT5]

July 2004 mate, must of been the shock of buying a brand new AC clutch for mine , unfortunatly for you.
Yea i bet thats it mate lol

[LucieDom]

Hi guys,

Well the update is. My hubby went in to pick the car up and spoke to the guy he said £800 to replace compressor. So anyway Dom repeated what I had told him, about what you all have said about the clutch..

Anyway the bloke must of felt like an idiot because he started back tracking and sayin he was 90% sure it is the air con clutch, but Volvo are not allowed to replace just that part.. so he wanted £800 to replace the whole thing, £800??? I could buy me another car for that!!!!

So the question now is can anyone tell me what sort of figure were looking at and I know we have been recommended place in cheam but has anyone else been anywhere highly recommened


Well I have not been a member long but you have already helped me out loads, if any blokes need any cooking, ironing tips let me know ha ha

[lighterfuel]

I have also had the same prob with my 1996 850 T5, my air con man regassed it and i rang to say, still not running right with warm air after 6-7 mins. So, he rang Volvo as his mates Brother in Law is the local Mechanic for the local Volvo Garage. The reply was, ' Volvo are aware of this problem and basicly its a relay switch that over heats in very warm conditions have we have been having. (true to a point cos during the winter months i never had any probs), anyway, the relay turns off air con cos as far as its concerned the car is at its right temp. (air climate control ofcourse). So quiz Volvo on that. (this all sounds a bit rogue trader to me from Volvo, as they know the fault but dont tell ya...cheeky huh)

[Justin]

Hi and :welcome:

Sorry for the late post, been busy today :)

Sounds like our members have given you a few alternatives, hope you get it sorted ;)

Now about that ironing........

[LucieDom]

Ok justin, I wil do it step by step for you...fill iron with water..plug iron in... lay item on ironing board.. and away you go ha ha ha


Still not had any other suggestions of how much peeps think it will cost for new air con clutch or any other suggestions of where to take it....?

[Justin]

Lol, I'll leave it to Mrs VF i think :)

Braydons would be your best bet, heard nothing but good reports and on the rare occasion i have used them, top notch ;)

A second hand pump will be roughly £100 and fitting the same, maximum.

[Wobbly Dave]

Had mine re-charged again and it works superbly. Richard the Air con Star didnt charge me a penny to do it again. So if any of you midlands lot want a professional job done - I will give you his number - he is mobile and can come to you.

[LucieDom]

Wheres Braydons??

[siamblue]

Here http://www.braydonmotors.co.uk/

Telephone (020) 8985 0336

Fax (020) 8986 6633

Email info@volvocarparts.co.uk

Address Braydon Motor Company,
Downs Road Service Station,
Downs Road,
London
E5 8QY

[nikgallagher]

I have also had the same prob with my 1996 850 T5, my air con man regassed it and i rang to say, still not running right with warm air after 6-7 mins. So, he rang Volvo as his mates Brother in Law is the local Mechanic for the local Volvo Garage. The reply was, ' Volvo are aware of this problem and basicly its a relay switch that over heats in very warm conditions have we have been having. (true to a point cos during the winter months i never had any probs), anyway, the relay turns off air con cos as far as its concerned the car is at its right temp. (air climate control ofcourse). So quiz Volvo on that. (this all sounds a bit rogue trader to me from Volvo, as they know the fault but dont tell ya...cheeky huh)

Anyone know any more details about this little nugget, cos seems rather similar to my problem. Bit stupid to have a relay that turns the air-con off when it gets too hot isn't it? Have been sweating for Britain during the last week, so am quite keen to find a nice cheap remedy.