My wife recently purchased a 93 245 with 316k from a friend. I'll be getting the first call for service, being more conveniently located than the various local Volvo shops with actual skills and knowledge. I've been enjoying the archives and learning a bit more about this modern, newfangled contraption (My first car was a 77 242, on which I did nothing but oil changes). I'm slowly trying to address the car's various minor issues and do as much preventative maintenance as I can.

Among the "minor issues," the AC compressor pulley seized under the previous owner's watch. This being the pacific northwest, he decided to bypass the AC, running a single alternator belt and another belt directly to the power steering pump. I've seen mixed opinions about the single alternator belt in the archives, and I think I'd like to switch back to the original setup for peace of mind. I'm not comforted by the rubber protrusion in the timing cover that sits a few millimeters from the bypass power steering belt.

My initial thought was to find a junkyard compressor (this is the R134a Seiko compressor) to use as a placeholder/idler pulley. I ended up finding a NOS compressor for not much more ($60) and went that route. Now, of course, I'm in deeper, with working AC being a possibility. Any advice on the following game plan would be greatly appreciated:

1) Have the system evacuated at a shop.
2) Install new compressor, orifice tube, accumulator/dryer, and o-rings in the driveway.
3) Route the belts back the original way (Is this OK with an uncharged system and the "dry" new compressor? I would leave the clutch switch disconnected.)
4) Have a shop (Volvo or A/C specialty?) flush and charge the system, and hope it works. If not, we have a very heavy NOS idler pulley.

All the best,
Joe
1993 245 316k (Rachel's)