I bought a 95 Volvo 850 and soon learned AC out of gas. Leak in evap in dash. I attemped to do it myself, but decided very soon too big for me.(getting old) I got lucky and found a shop that did the job for me in exchange for a tank of R12. This car doesn't use R12 but the stuff is like gold. I traded a 50lb cyl @ $20 a lb. I still had to come up with $287. So all was OK? not quite. I kept getting trouble codes for the Vent motors. SO I replaced one ($125). Still wasn't right. So I replaced the next one listed. Turned out that neither one was bad, the wires got reversed when the evap was changed. Anyway, it worked ok after that. Well almost. It started crapping out on real hot days or in traffic. Then it finally got to the point that it would quit at an idle with the engine warmed up. I learned that there was 12V to the coil but it would drop out.(overheating) I ordered a compressor from a bone yard. Did some more research and learned about "air gap". The space between the clutch and its matching surface when at rest. It appears that .020 is the gap. I checked my "new" compressor, it was .020 on the money. My old compressor was .049. I probably could have just changed the clutch ( $241 from Volvo). But to do it, I had to remove the unit, so I just went ahead and changed it. ALL ok now?? Not yet. I had to drain some antifreeze and remove the upper radiator hose. I finished the job LATE at night because my wife needed the car to drive 55 miles to work at 1 in the AM in another day. And I wanted some run time before she took off in the middle of the night. LUCKY MOVE. I didn't purge enough..car Overheated. AAA involved. I new it was my fault. BUT ALL IS WELL NOW. And I don't think she overheated it enough to do damage. 203000 and runs like a top.
By the way, I found an excellent site for used parts. www.car-part.com Try it.
I love my Volvo, I have a 91 MB 420 SEL. Its great, but I like the Volvo better.
Refer Man