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Odd A/C Problem V70-XC70 2003

I’m having a problem with my 03 V70 with 240,000-ish miles. The AC will run all day long as long as I’m moving down the road or not standing still for too long. Sit in the line at a fast food joint and the compressor will stop running. Turning the AC switch on and off will alter the engine idle a bit but there won’t even be a click noise from the clutch which makes me think the problem is something other than the clutch gap. If I shut it off and run in a store for a few minutes the AC will work fine when I return. That is until I come to a stand still again.

The gauge on my cheapy refrigerant fill hose says the low pressure port pressure is right in the green zone with the compressor running at idle. I didn’t look at the gauge with RPMs elevated nor have I checked the high pressure port pressure to get an idea how well the compressor is performing.

I am not seeing the volume of evaporator drip that I would expect in our humid climate.

I’ve sucked the lint out of the cabin temp sensor.

The engine temp is steady at mid point. The radiator fan is turning on as expected.

What am I missing?

A couple questions: Where is the pressure switch located and what is the allowable gap in the clutch (when disengaged).








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    Odd A/C Problem V70-XC70 2003

    The compressor clutch gap should be.020". When it starts getting up in the high thirty thousandths, the compressor clutch will not engage in hot weather (just when you need it most).








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    Odd A/C Problem V70-XC70 2003

    I'd shim the compressor clutch-- my V70 behaved similarly when the gap got too large.








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    Odd A/C Problem V70-XC70 2003


    Try turning the blower speed up and see if that helps. I wonder if the evaporator is freezing up with very little air volume and high humidity.

    Your car has a thermostat sticking into the evaporator close to the gas pedal. If that sensor gets to 32F, it shuts off the compressor.
    --
    Keeping it running is better than buying new








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    Odd A/C Problem V70-XC70 2003


    Verify that the fan for the radiator/evaporator is working, and that the evaporator is open to good airflow, rather then chocked with dead bugs and grass seed. Next evaluation of the radiator condition. If it is original replace it. If the car is seeing too high of engine coolant temperatures it will shut down the A/C. Engines are running in an over heated state for want of a radiator plunging up long before the drivers are made aware of a problem. And when your coolant falls on to the ground it’s kinda too late.







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