My 1987 740GLE has started making a noise when it is being cranked with a/c on. It sounds like the starter is turning real slow and dragging. THe engine will start eventually but it takes longer and it scares the wife. With the a/c turned off the engine cranks as normal with no noise. Although we have a work-around by starting the engine with the a/c turned off I still want to know what is causing this problem. Has anyone encountered this problem? Any idea on how to troubleshoot the problem?
Thanks

You should have a gray AC relay that provides a 10-second delay in cutting in the compressor. Mine ('90 740 GL) is located behind the glovebox. Maybe yours isn't doing its job?

Has it been converted? Has it been serviced recently?
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Yes it was "converted" recently and there were electrical issues at the time that the shop supposedly fixed at the time. I think the fan motor was getting stuck for lack of use. The car had been in storage for 5 years.

If it started this after the conversion, suspect they overfilled it. Unlike R12, you can overfill 134 which will cause the a/c belt to jump because it can't push the 134.
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I am going to vacuum out the system, replace the dryer and orifice tube as soon as the parts arrive. The shop that this "conversion" vacuumed the system and put in oil they said was compatible with the R12 stuff I guess mineral oil. But they did not replace any parts. I needed a car with a/c for my wife to drive after her car was wrecked and the Volvo was/is in the process of being rehabed and road legal but no a/c. I took it to this shop that is very reasonable and had correctly diagnosed a problem on another vehicle. I asked them to check the a/c system on the Volvo for me so I knew what to repalce or fix. They hooked up a manifold set and proceeded to vacuum out the system after half an hour they pronounced the system healthy anough to charge with r134. The bill was $125 and I had cool (60 F) air coming out the vents and the wife was happy. I knew that this was not the correct way of doing things but I had to do something quick to get my wife into this car. The plan is to do the conversion correctly but in the meantime this business with the starter came up and I want to get it fixed before I do the conversion.

I still think it is overcharged. Look here, page 9 gives the fill capacity.

Maybe if you can find a shop to just check the charge reasonably.

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/VolvoR134Conversion/R134ConversionPage1.htm
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This afternoon I got a call from the wife saying she was at the dry cleaners and the starter was not cranking at all. Had AAA tow her home and I picked up a reman starter on the way home. Looks like the starter was the problem all along. If this is the original not bad service, 23 years. I hope the new one lasts that long.
Thanks for all your help.