My beautiful 97R wagon I bought with only 49.8K miles on it has an A/C problem, which translates as pump kicking on and off every few seconds, which translates as loss off freon, which translates as pin holes in the evaporator. This is a major expense which every 850/70 owner dreads. I read the general description on Bay 13 which said this is a not a job for amateurs, because you have to remove the dash and basically everything after that to the inside firewall before you can get at the evaporator, and then tear the front of the engine apart to install a new accumulator, the latter for reasons I'm not clear on.

My question is this: I have the tools, am 66, still clear of mind (relatively speaking), have changed out belts, brakes, all fluids, done body work, etc., on 140, 240 and 850's, but is this a job that should really be left to the experts, ala Volvo or an Indy shop? I would hate to buy a $350 kit from Volvo Houston where I shop for my parts, start in on the job, and discover that I am in over my head half way through.

Are there any first-time people out there who can advise, either to bolster or dissuade on this project? Dick