I have a great '93 850 GLT with about 280,000 miles on it. Last year I developed a problem with my air conditioner evaporator - a leak or crack in the unit. First and second opinions have offered only an evaporator reeplacement to address the issue. The unit is no longer holding a refrigerant charge.

Price for the replacement is astronomical. Can you offer any options? Thanks!

Kyle

PS - rolling my windows down and only driving on cool days are two options already suggested! :-)

fyi-a previous poster suggested using a sealer-DON'T! ac recovery machines used in shops can't handle it, they clog like a leak. there are sealant identifiers and those that have them won't touch your car if a sealant's installed. even if you do your own evap replacement, who's gonna vacuum it down? gonna buy a vacuum pump, too? good luck, huck.

Hey Hey Swisher,
Well, luck you it lasted 280,000 miles. I'm in the midst of changing the evap (and yeah its one long and arduous task!). Its only getting hotter- 90 and up soon! Your 3rd option is to sell the car although, you may not get the value if you've maintained it well. Frankly I think if you're VERY patient, you can tackle it. I'm 7/8ths done. Let me know what you decide and I can give you pointers if you think you can or just shell out $1100 and cross your fingers it doesnt happen again. Evaps are a chronic 850 problem so prepared.

PS If you have a family, PLEASE dont put them through having to roll windows down... thats torture , besides its too un-Volvo like!

You can buy the parts for about $200 from fcpgroton (evap + drier, + VOV and Orings), and plan for a full weekend of work. I recommend spending another $50 for the Volvo AC manual for your car. Well worth it to know exactly what needs to be removed, and where to find the hidden screws. However, if a weekend's worth of work is not worth a $1000 of your time, then have the dealer do it.

Good Luck,

Tom

hi,
replacement of the evap is really the only proper way to do this,but i dont recomend you do this repair by yourself unless you are fairly competent and have all the right tools to start with.
there is one other option......depending on how bad the leak is you can get a stop leak kit for a/c systems bit like you put in a leaking radiator and works on same princible.
dont know where you would get one over your way but try an a/c specialist or good auto parts store.
these kits only work on minor leaks and are obviously not a permanent fix, but cheap and worth a go.

steve.

sealers should not be an option. the ac recovery machines used in shops can't swallow it without gagging. most shops have sealant identifiers to avoid this, which means those shops won't touch cars with sealant in the ac system. and so it goes, chuck.