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FYI - does your AC compressor shut off on hot days

posted by  KlausC on  Tue Jun 7 21:07 CST 2011
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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It was 97F yesterday and 103F today. Yesterday, I threw in a 12oz can of r134a because it was really low. I had the temps set at 72F, the black car had been sitting in the sun, so the cabin temp was about 150F+.

As soon as I started the engine, the ECC closed the circulation vent, and off I went down the highway. Cold air from the vents felt good, blower on auto was full blast and the compressor didn't cycle. Until I slowed down. About 20 minutes into my test drive, the compressor stopped. It was too hot!

When I pulled into the driveway, I checked the clutch. Fine. Checked the pressostat. Fine. Everything was good, except the compressor would not engage. The engine cooling fan was on high.

The compressor is not designed to run for 20 minutes straight! It shut down to save itself from my ignorance.

Today, the hotter day, I ran for an hour without a shutdown. How? I opened all of the doors and the rear hatch. Turned the blower to 0 and started the car. After 30 seconds, I closed the doors and the hatch and started the 1 mile drive to the highway, windows down.

When I got to the highway (50mph), I turned the blower to auto to start the AC and closed the windows. I set the temps to 78F, just to give the unit time to cycle once in a while.

Morale: Don't over cool your hot Volvo.

Klaus
--
Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.








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    FYI - does your AC compressor shut off on hot days - good warning

    posted by  V7driver on  Wed Jun 8 21:29 CST 2011
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    last visit: Fri Aug 10 20:01 CST 2012
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    Thanks for the advice. With a white V70, I do not recall ever encountering this.








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      Black or white

      posted by  KlausC on  Wed Jun 8 21:44 CST 2011
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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      And white doesn't get dirty as fast. We have 6 months of winter, the black is great for melting the snow off the car, but the salt makes the car have white sides...
      --
      Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.








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        Black or white

        posted by  V7driver on  Thu Jun 9 20:21 CST 2011
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        last visit: Fri Aug 10 20:01 CST 2012
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        Why not paint the roof white? That would reduce the heat load greatly.








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          Black or white

          posted by  KlausC on  Thu Jun 9 20:51 CST 2011
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          last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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          But the black moonroof would look ugly!! Perhaps a rool of that white sticky stuff that carmakers put on their cars for delivery?

          My 1976 VW bus had a red body and white roof, no AC. It worked just fine in the summer heat of the midwest. It sure was cold in the winter! One of the best cars I ever had -- 6 adults, plus camping gear for a 3 day weekend, and 20mpg. It was the frost on the inside of the windshield that forced me to buy a SAAB turbo.

          Klaus
          --
          Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.








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        Black or white

        posted by  Fribblehead on  Thu Jun 9 06:26 CST 2011
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        last visit: Mon Jul 14 16:23 CST 2014
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        For all of us...

        dont forget to spray out the front radiation area with the hood open. between the AC condensor, the radiator, and intercooler there is a lot of room for bugs and grime to accumulate. I high pressured mine a while back (make sure you dont bend the fins). I also made sure there was no grime in the area of the AC compressor.

        True story, my 98XC is black on black leather. I had the windows done by a local guy for about 200 bucks. Yesterday was insanely got in MA (as it sounds it was for Klaus) and I had to use the AC. On other days I can get by with the sunroof full open and "fresh" air coming in without actually running the AC...the tint really makes a difference. - I went legal in the front and limo tint in the back :)

        Regardless I think I may be bit low in 134 so I too will be topping mine off.








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    FYI - does your AC compressor shut off on hot days

    posted by  Tidewater T5 on  Wed Jun 8 20:36 CST 2011
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    last visit: Wed Sep 18 20:50 CST 2013
    [RELATED]

    Here is SE Virginia, such upper 90s summer days are the norm. Like Klaus, I use the 5-door ventilation scheme (and the sun roof)to cause that block of 150 DEGF air to escape, before I ask my AC to take on the job.

    Also, if you don't have them already, tinted windows REALLY work and are worth the cost of professional installation.






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