XC60 AC PROBLEMS

foiler

Hey guys

Having issues with AC , iam certainly not a expert but have some knowledge and very keen to learn so have spent last 2 days learning but there few things that have me stumped so any advice be greatly appreciated

I regassed system 12 months ago but not sure if ac performed any better as it my wifes car and now getting hot again wife has me under pressure to fix!! So no cold air at all now

-, system has been evacuated and i have put gauges on and have vacumed system and is holding pressure , compressor clutch is not engaging , seem to turns easy by hand ,so i have taken 2 pin lead off compressor to test and there seems to be 12v there all time even with ac switch turned off which has me puzzled . the other single socket wire doesnt seem to have any power to it . i have tried to connect a 12v power to pins but doesnt seem to activate clutch ,

When i connect my scanner (maxi ecu) and do a test if it has - AC Button not activated ,when it is pressed on . it may sometimes briefly show it is on if i press AC button on and off , but will show not activated again. Iam not sure is this may have anything to do with issues or related to compressor not turning on .

i cant find the relay for AC to check as in the manual it says 32 -33 but on car there is no connection there for these 2 fuses/relays ??

So any advice before i buy a new compressor would be much appreciated

THANKS BRAD

timbo

foiler what engine do you have in your xc60? Can you see any data on your scanner eg:a/c pressure switch status?

foiler

hey timbo

thanks for reply mate

yeh sorry meant to put car details in but forgot !

2012 xc60 d5

engine D5244T15

No dont think my scanner has pressure switch status , it shows AC Switch off when its actually on (see photo ) which has me puzzled, but also shows AC relay not activated .

i will try testing pressure switch today by bridging the sensor and see if it operates clutch, but i have heard the solenoid goes in the compressor alot , but dont know if worth just changing the whole compressor over as can get sanden on ebay for $590

deos anyone know where relay of fuse for Ac is i cannot find it anywhere manual says 32-33 and they dont exist on my panel ?

THANKS

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TL_V70

Hi does your compressor have 3 connections like this? Image description

I have no specific Xc60 knowledge as I own an older volvo but the single wire plug is the 12v supply to the clutch,
The 2 pin plug which you call the solenoid which has 12v constant on your car will control the swash plate angle inside the compressor effectively controlling the compressors out put.

12v constant there is normal as the solenoid will work on PWM and is adjusted via current not voltage that why when you put 12v it does nothing. There should also be a high and low pressure switch unless the pressure switch is 2 switches in one. If so I would assume it would have more than 2 wires.

TL_V70

I can see you scanner reads a/c pressure so I would assume their is only 1 pressure sensor so you most likely can't bridge it, it would be a 3 wire sensor working on a variable return voltage to the A/C controller.

Also if the solenoid fails the compressor won't pump but the clutch should engage (should) depending on how smart the system is and I am unsure on that as I don't own a Xc60 ( I am an auto electrician tho.)

foiler

Hey mate

Thanks for info really appreciated it , and although i spend days trying to fix things (probably easier to get someone to fix it ) i hope to gain knowledge along the way which in return i can pass on to someone.

Your info sounds correct , i have learned that the soleniod do go on the sanden compressors but i would probably just replace the whole compressor for $550

the wire from pressure switch on high side (havent found if there is a low side switch yet) is a 3 prong

can i bridge this sensor to make clutch work ? if i add 12v to the single wire should that activate clutch as i think i have tried that and it didnt activate clutch .

THANKS again for help mate

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foiler

just put power to single clutch wire and clutch did activate ,(good news ) so must be solenoid or pressure switch .so i just have to find out how to test these properly .

TL_V70

Hi Brad, there will probably only be 1 pressure switch as it's a 3 wire. ( it will be a pressure sensor) it's has a variable output not on or off like a switch so it's harder to test you can't just put 12v to it you might blow something up

Not sure on Newer volvo but alot of sensors are 5v operating voltage not 12v.

Now more importantly goes it have refrigerant gas in the A/C system?
You obviously have A/C guages or access to them?

I ask this coz you scanner image says A/C pressure at 626 hPa. I don't know hPa but google tells me that's 9Psi in my world.
If that's reading right the system is empty of gas. It might pay to throw guages back on it and see if there is gas in the system

Let me know what the A/C guages read with the car off but connected to the system
(static system pressure)

I noticed at the start of the thread you said you vacuumed it and tested it and holds pressure, it should hold Vacuum not being funny just trying to help and clarify it has gas in the aircon.

foiler

hey mate

no gas in aircon, i did a vacumn test for leaks and seemed all good , i havent regassed as i had in mind that i would have to replace compressor .

i bridged terminal on sensor lead briefly to see if clutch activated ,the engine seemed to alter revs but clutch didnt engage

thanks

TL_V70

Did you weigh out the gas that was taken out? It's a good way to see leaks or performance issues of A/C eg if its supposed to hold lets say 700g and you removed 300g of gas you knownyou have leak and poor coolingperformance. Its harder to test the system with out gas as its a pressure sensor not a switch you can't just bridge it trust me

The 3 wires on the sensor will be
-A supply voltage anything from 5-12v
-A negative or earth
-A return signal voltage to the A/C controller (this voltage will vary on depending system pressure) most likely 0.5v to whatever the supply voltage is. This is how the controller knows its constantly adjusting pressure of the aircon eg it uses this info for lost of things.

Modern aircon or climate control is a beast sometimes but start fresh regas and see what's its doing electrically and with pressures with A/C guages hooked up before buying a compressor.

foiler

thanks for info ,

iam definatly not a expert at this but trying hard ! lol

i have a video of gauges from a year ago when my wife first started compaining about no AC lol.

iam not sure if this was after regas with Hy chill which does run on lower pressure appartently or before .

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TL_V70

Hi chill from memory is different pressures to R134sla and about 1/3 of the gas. I have no experience with it tho. I have only used R134a throughout my year.

TL_V70

LPG will also work in Aircon.

TL_V70

If you have hi chill available regas as start diagnosis from scratch its your best and possibly cheapest option to diagnose before throwing a compressor at it. Then you can rule out if its electricial or mechanical based fault and proceed forward that way.

TL_V70

https://hychill.com.au/info/chargeweights/volvo

Find your model here and charge accordingly

TL_V70

Also get a thermometer or temp probe or a meat thermometer if you like BBQing like me and put it in the vent to see air temp this will help you see the A/C performance. 10deg C vent temp or less is desirable but don't focus on 10 to hard 13 or down is good. This also aids is diagnosis. There is lots of variables in A/C even thinks like if the heater tap leaks or doesn't close properly.

Start fresh then you have a base line to go forward from.

foiler

roger that i will regas and see if i can get you some numbers to work on

not sure if i get time today but i get back to you

thanks again for all your help

timbo

foiler any reason why you're not just re-gassing with r134? Hychill is probably gonna operate at different pressures, not such a big deal on an older system but could cause issues on these later setups

TL_V70

foiler no dramas at all. We all learn from each other knowledge needs to be shared.