[Nebor]

Anyone else in a hot climate find their air conditioner seems overwhelmed by their large, dark coloured car? I think maybe it's because my S70 doesn't have tint. I drove it to work today, since the Acura dealer took my TL in for service this morning.

I noticed the problem when I came out of Benihana after eating lunch. I opened the door to the S70, and a plume of steam shot out my door. (Note: all my cars for the past 10 years have been white.) I got in, cranked up the AC, popped the windows down and cracked the moonroof. It seemed like it took about 3 or 4 minutes before cold air emerged. In the 10 minute drive back to work, the car never really got cool. It seems like the air coming out of the vents just sort of leveled off on a pleasant cool, but didn't get cold enough to chill things out in the cabin.

Now I dealt with this on my 960, because of an AC leak. I just had to have it recharged once a year. Does the S70 suffer the same leak? Or do I need tint? I'm not going to blame the quality of the AC, since it must be high grade to endure the arrid Swedish climate. Any ideas?

[beachnut]

My experience with the 850 (same compressor afaik) is that the AC is pretty good. I have a very slow leak on the compressor seal. You can see the dye that my AC guy uses when he does a refill coming out at the comp. The charge lasts for ~4 months, then it does what you're describing. He has a new comp for me ... just need to get in there and get the job done. You really shouldn't have any leak anywhere. If you do, something is wrong. If all the 'under the hood' components are good (comp., condensor, dryer, hoses) then more than likely the leak is in the evaporator

I do remember my parents '92 240 AC being quite inadequate however.

[twobricks]

Volvo A/C is adequate... way better than the Fords we used to drive. It's just that the dash gets so hot it overwhelms it for a while if it's been out in the tropical sun. I don't think tint really helps that much. A good set of windshield shades are a lot cheaper and do help.

[jda2000]

I have a black V70 here in sunny Florida and this is what I've done to keep it cool:

It helps tremendously to have the windows tinted, use a windshield shade if not parked under a tree, leave the window down 1" for heat to escape when parked in the sun and I relocated the horns to the left fender area, unblocking full airflow thru the radiator. This helps with better and faster cooling when the AC is on

[tarp]

My S70 is grey/grey and gets effin' hot in the summer (May to Oct), even with the state-legal 35% tint all round. Once I got a compressor that worked, it gets the car cool, but it takes some time.

[prasamin]

tint buddy....that can only help....when I was in Dallas back in the day, all our cars would fry, especially the ones with leather...got them all tinted, used sun visors when we weren't driving, and that definitely helped alot!

[WhiteT5]

I'm from the same area (relatively) and i have the same problem.  I just roll the windows down and crank up the blower.  It's just a texas thing...it'll only get hotter

So true. Just don't wear shorts in the summer time when you drive unless you don't mind your legs being burnt to a crisp. My car's white with tan leather, but it does have tint. Even so, it gets retardedly hot when you first get in and it takes a couple minutes for the A/C to actually start feeling bearable.

The Dallas area is the worst too. I've been to Houston, Galveston, Austin during the summer and it just doesn't feel as hot as it does here. Unless you've been here during the dead of the summer, ya just don't understand how miserable it is and why no one ever goes outside until it gets dark.

[Nebor]

So true.  Just don't wear shorts in the summer time when you drive unless you don't mind your legs being burnt to a crisp.  My car's white with tan leather, but it does have tint.  Even so, it gets retardedly hot when you first get in and it takes a couple minutes for the A/C to actually start feeling bearable.

The Dallas area is the worst too.  I've been to Houston, Galveston, Austin during the summer and it just doesn't feel as hot as it does here.  Unless you've been here during the dead of the summer, ya just don't understand how miserable it is and why no one ever goes outside until it gets dark.

I think Houston is far more miserable for far many more reasons. Houston is a pit.