XC90 A/C Problems

120

Asked by MrMack Aug 08, 2013 at 03:29 PM about the 2006 Volvo XC90 V8 AWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Last summer we noticed our A/C didn't seem to be cooling as much as it used to.  We had A/C checked and were told by dealership that coolant levels were fine but battery needed replacement.  Replaced battery but no noticeable change in A/C.  This summer the problem persists.  We used to be comfortable setting automatic temperature to 72 degrees in 105 degree weather. Now we have to set to coldest possible (64 degrees) just to feel any form of cool air... and it still struggles.  I've noticed that it seems to work better when on the highway traveling at faster speeds.  However, sitting at a streetlight within the city we might as well not have the air turned on at all.  We've had the A/C checked again and all coolant levels are fine.  Please advise, as I'm tired of throwing money at this car!

24 Answers

120

would this explain why it cools whenever you're at speeds exceeding 40 mph and doesn't cool when you're slower or at street light idle?

12 people found this helpful.
170

Have the same exact problem. Any resolution on your end?

17 people found this helpful.
170

1.Using compressed air, Blow out the lint where the thermostat (grilled area just above thermostat control). 2. Then turn both thermostats to lowest temp, fan on Hi and run for 30 seconds, now both thermostats to highest temp, fan on Hi run for a further 30 seconds. Repeat step 2 each time you start the car over the next week and then monthly.

15 people found this helpful.
40

Raise with water and check your air temperature if the temperature drops you may have issues with the condenser

4 people found this helpful.
120

So after reviewing this thread, we had the compressor changed.......it did absolutely nothing to fix the problem. The original post is exactly what my xc90 is doing and now that we have cleaned everything out and changed the compressor, I'm at a loss on what else could possibly be the issue. ANY OTHER SOLUTIONS? Thanks guys!

12 people found this helpful.
40

Check you cooling FANS, Make sure they are running when you start your car and turn on the AC. If not you may need to replace the main cooling fan.

4 people found this helpful.
50

I’m going through the exact same issues with my 2007 xc90 v8 ... except when im driving hot air is blowing on my legs even after I turn everything off and when I turn my car off I can still hear a fan running..... so I’m thinking that it may be the cooling fan that needs replaced. I’ll have it checked and get back with everyone. Thanks

5 people found this helpful.
120

Have the SAME issue. AC in 2008 XC90 worked fine now doesn't, Had AC Compressor serviced and tested as AOK, Had freon drained and refilled, Had cabin filter replaced, Cleaned cabin temperature sensor with compressed air. Running cool water over coils helps a little but not much. Running down highway temperature at vents is 63 degrees (same as setting on thermostat) which is not enough to cool a car in summer and nowhere near 40 degreesF as is usual. There has got to be an answer, nobody can figure out and there are literally a hundred posts with the same problem online.

12 people found this helpful.
50

Going through the same issue. Changed out the Compressor, condenser and receiver drier. The compressor is not turning on. the only way to turn it on is by placing a jumper on the relay location. However it does not cool the cabin down. The High side line going to the compressor is hot. The Low side is warm I thought that was suppose to be cold. Next im going to change out the expansion valve.

5 people found this helpful.
70

did anybody check your blower motor and resister?

7 people found this helpful.
410

I’m thinking your all shooting in the dark here I’d lean twords the ac pressure switch on the condenser in the front of the Xc90 remove passenger side headlight and follow the side of the condenser to a wired plug I believe that if the pressure switch cannot figure out the ac pressure in the system then it won’t let the compressor cycle the freon through the system that’s the problem try it the only thing that sucks about this is you have to remove the freon from the system with a Recovery machine otherwise u will let the freon into thin air like your wallet buying freon hope this helps Regards Christian..........

11 people found this helpful.
80

I am having the same problem. I have Freon and air is coming out, but it’s just not cold. It’s miserable! My husband said it was the blender door. Does that make any sense? And is that hard to fix?

8 people found this helpful.
110

I have a similar issue with My 2018 XC 90 Inscription. Dual temp controls set at lowest setting yet air on passenger side is much cooler than drivers side. Volvo manual “explains” that car is equipped with sensors to detect the atmospheric conditions of each side of the car and will adjust accordingly, regardless of setting. That is insane! What are controls for if the cars sensors override them???

11 people found this helpful.
30

I am having similar problems as described: AC only blows cold after a while on the highway, and works intermittently. However the 3rd row AC works fine. All I can think of is replace the thermostat for the front???

3 people found this helpful.
410

Ok those of you with a Xc90 with horrible cooling from your ac system ! After replacing every part in the whole system evaporator condenser dryer compressor and expansion valves from and rear put everything back together vacuumed it down to remove the moisture and filled system with 2.1 pounds of freon still no cool air I’m thinking well it has to b a blockage in one of the lines no blockage evacuated the freon back out and on the compressor itself is a txv valve that lets freon through the system apparently the so called new compressor wasn’t exactly new I changed the txv valve it’s held in by a snap ringAccessible From the front of the compressor removed it replaced it with a new one vacuumed the system down again and refilled the system with freon and Blam ice cold 32 degrees coming out of the vents so all of you with Volvo XC90 cooling issues I’d start with this valve it’s 100 bucks online and about 20 minutes to replace Hope this helps u on your way to a colder ac system regards Christian......

30 people found this helpful.
40

Well ive been told to replace my main cooling fan i think thats the problem bc you need you cooling fan to go up to the right speed to send code to the compressor ill check ill let you guys know i think it will solve the problem

4 people found this helpful.
30

3rd compressor in 13 years. If car gets hot again, time for a trade. Too expensive and intolerable in Louisiana heat.

3 people found this helpful.
20

Have any of you replaced the thermister or found the thermister wire broken (little wire in the small grill above the temp control on the ac control panel)? We found that ours was not broken but the "bulb" on the wires was missing so we replaced it (youtube video for the assist). We still have the same issue and thankfully we didn't make it any worse. We have already replace all the major AC components, evacuated and recharged the system- no luck.

2 people found this helpful.
60

Have a 2018 xc90. On two occasions in the last month (July and August) the fan has quit blowing in high temperature and humid settings. During the event we can hear the fan working, but only a trickle of cold air coming out. No amount of manipulation of the controls has helped. On both occasions the problem resolved overnight. Sounds like a compressor freezing up. This probably doesn’t happen often in Scandinavia but from reading the posts it is a recurring problem in the American South. Dealers in Little Rock and in Dallas indicate it is a known problem, but Volvo does not yet have a solution. Basically: I have a luxury vehicle unusable for trips greater than 1 hour in hot humid weather. It was 103 on our trip yesterday. Ouch. Sd

6 people found this helpful.
20

Sad1doc There is no fix? I just got a 2008 s60 and it stops blowing even though I can hear the fan running, the sound does not change, just the force of the air. O think it's even still cold air, just not much coming out I wonder if something is freezing because it only happens on long drives and if I turn the AC off for a few minutes then when I turn it on it will work normally for awhile

2 people found this helpful.

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