Hey everyone I first want to say this is a great site and the community seems really great so thanks to the creators and contributors out there.

I am a newlywed (almost a year now) and I have had the priveldge to "marry into" a nice big ol' '97 Volvo 960. It is my wifes car. I own a '02 VW jetta so for me most of the work has been done at the shop (i do breaks, oil, and minor things myself). But recently i busted a water pump, needed a timing belt, and a list of other things on the Jetta so to the shop it went. AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW as soon as I pay them the $1100 for the VW work my wife's Volvo's A/C quits and her service light comes on. (cutting to the chase)

THE QUESTION:
After closer inspection this 960 has been neglected (including by me because it has taken me almost a year to really look into this). The last service on record was the 20,000 mile service at a dealer and it currently has 159,000 miles on it. I called the local Volvo specialist shop and they said it will need a 150,000 mile service including a timing belt, and possible water pump (depending on what it looked like) and they would charge me to check out the A/C problem. All in all they wanted to charge over $800 to catch it up on service and a new timing belt/tensioners/etc. MY QUESTION IS: How much of this could I do? What would be YOUR first step? Are there any other things you all would suggest checking into? Any guidance will be cherished! Thanks for reading this long post.

-Phil
Nashville, TN

I had a fast a/c failure on my car three years ago; the connector from the clutch fan was not making contact; cut off the outside insulation around the single pin cryslar connector pushed the female and male pins back together and replaced the connector insulation with electric tape. Worked! I always try the easy fixes first before I start troubleshooting. This inspection won't cost you much time and money; find the wire from the compressor and follow it back to the connector and see if the insulation is forcing the connector not to make. If so correct as above.
'97 960 109k miles

Hi Phil -

Welcome to the BB. My 1997 965 (in the old Volvo badging system, 965 is a Series 9, 6-cylinder, 5 doors) came into our family from an eBay seller in Knoxville, but it was "born" at Nashville Volvo.

Last week in hot 95F weather and high humidity here in Houston, the a/c system froze. Went from nice and cool to warm air vry quickly. I had just left a store parking lot, and set the temp way down and fan on #5. Fortunately I was nearly home.

After mentally going though all the possible causes, I ruled out low refrigerant change (too quick a failure) and failed compressor (just hoped)
and let the car sit ovenight. If the evaporator had frozen, the resulting system pressure error would trip a sensor and drop out the compressor.

Tried it again in the AM, and the system's usual performance was back.

Any possibility that your system just froze?

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

I wish but its been acting like this for going on 3 days. I am tempted to take it to the shop to get them to diagnose the problem (the guy said $35 to look at it for an half hour).

-phil

Hi Phil,

If you've worked on your Jetta, then you can perform the Timing belt R & R. We can provide instructions. Many members on this list have performed this maintenance.

As far as the A/C, we may be able to help with that as well. Tell us what's wrong and be as detailed as you can.

Welcome to Volvo!

DEWFPO
--
1998 S90 077,400 and 1995 964 154,100

Great! I am looking at a 960 Timing Belt Change in B6300 Series Engines walkthrough on this site and as soon as I confirm the Engine Series I think I am going to prepare and attempt this. I am sure I will be posting regarding this with more detailed questions.

As far as the AC goes I will take a closer look at things when I get home this evening. Is there something in particular to listen/look for? The only thing I know is that the AC used to freeze you out within a few minutes and then one day (3 days ago) we were driving and noticed it was blowing HARDLY cooled air. Just fraction cooler than outside. We switched off REC and AC and tried variations of the controls but nothing helped. This was not a gradual event, just up and stopped working as well. Let me know what to look for.

THANKS!

-Phil

Dear Phil,

Good p.m. and may this find you well. You've heard from the Board's bona fide 960 experts. I'll only add that doing the timing belt should be HYPER-URGENT. A timing belt failure usually ruins the head, which is a $2,500-3,000US repair.

Unlike the B230F engine used in 240,740, and 940 Volvos, the B6304 engine used in the 960s is of an "interference" design. When the timing belt breaks, the pistons hit the valves. Bent valves and damaged valve guides must be replaced.

The B6304 engine's multi-part head makes this work more challenging.

In sum, get the timing belt done, PRONTO.

You've been advised to changed the tensioner, pullies, and water pump. This is solid platinum advice. Follow it. To the letter. The cost of these items is chicken-feed, compared with the cost of a head rebuild.

Yours faithfully,

spook

Phil,

I recommend checking the 700/900 series FAQ's on this site for instructions and precedures. As well I sent you a PM with my own detailed instructions. Between everything you find on this site, you will be in good shape.

As far as the A/C goes........

- Is the compressor engaging when you turn the A/C on?

- Is it cycling rapidly?

- Is the accumulaor/reciever/dryer getting cold when the compressor is running?

- Is the cooling fan (on the radiator) coming on when the compressor is enguaged (sometimes it may take a couple of minutes depending on the outside temps.)?

- Check the heater control valve (vacuum operated valve near the Power Brake Booster on the fire wall). Is it receiving vacuum? Does it change position when vacuum is applied?

- Is the airflow out of the vents changing FLOW when this occurs?

- Does it only occur on medium/hard acceration?

- Does it run ICE cold, then stop blowing air almost comletely?

- If you turn the A/C off for 10-15 minutes and then turn it back on is it cold again?

- Do you have a R134a low side gauge available?

These are some of the questions that can help us perhaps help you.

DEWFP


--
1998 S90 077,400 and 1995 964 154,100

Phil- Watch Dewfpo-He'll teach you things-With his help I changed my fist timing belt on my 960 a couple of years ago-Just changed it again 70m miles later and the lesson worked-follow his list and things will go well-
You will probally need a new timing belt tensioner and pullyies along with a new water pump with the miles you have on that car.
If the only maintance the car has had is at 2ok you better get on it asap-the belt replacement should have been worked at 70k miles.
Good Luck
Poolman

The good thing is that all of the work you describe overlaps. If you have the change the AC compressor you are half way into the timing belt disassembly. I did all of this work 3 weeks ago and it took about 6 hours total. None of the work is really hard to get to with the right tools. About the only specialty item that I needed to get one of the rear compressor bolts loose was a crows foot adapter for a ratchet. I can't remember now if it was a 14 or 15mm. I used a combination of two poor manuals(Chilton's, Mitchell cd) plus the board for guidance. It is definitely a do-able job for a patient amateur. With that mileage, you should change out all of the pulleys and water pump.
Good luck.

would the compressor kick in with the car not cranked? like if i turnt the key to on all the way? I get the vents blowing but nothing at all from anything in the engine compartment.

-phil

The compressor clutch will not engage without the engine running.

DEWFPO
--
1998 S90 077,400 and 1995 964 154,100