Pete will live
 

call me creative.

i have made arrangements with a local MB indy for a parts swap.

I will get a new-to-me manual tranny in exchage for parts from the 300 parts car. He wants the radiator, calipers, and axles.
I in turn will get the tranny AND the use of his garage AND his supervision AND usage of his tools to do the swap. We're doing it on a slow saturday.

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, i'm driving around in a volvo 850 wagon. Nice car, just not the same.

By the way, the 850 is having A/C trouble. I charged it up but still no cold air. I noticed no change in engine 'load' when i turn on the A/C switch which points to maybe a blown fuse as if it's not even trying to come on. It might be nice gesture to fix the A/C for the person who loaned me the car. any ideas?

You go girrrl...
 

After accomplishing this task, you'll never view another major repair the same way!

Start by 9:00 and you should be done by 2:00 at the absolute LATEST! Good luck!

Jen,

Try www.brickboard.com the volvo online forum. Lots of FAQ's
!!

Begin by looking at the front of the Volvo compressor while engine is running and AC off (don't stick fingers down there). You will see the fan belt turning the AC pulley around but the front center of the pulley assembly will not be turning. Then turn the AC on and reobserve--Is the entire pulley including the front center portion now turning--if yes, then the compressor is at least engaging. If not, could be a number of different causes. Report back.

Jenn,

That's great news. I'm glad to hear of 'Lil Pete's impending resuscitation.
Sounds like you have mastered the art of negotiation. Good work.

By G*d woman, what's next?

We'll all be taking our rides to "Jenn's German Auto" for a Latte and tranny swap!

Check the climate control fuse if you have climate control on the Volvo.

Also, you may want to jumper the compressor clutch to see if it turns. If it does, and you get cold air, the problem is in the switch. If it runs, but you dont' get cold air, you have a big leak and no pressure.

I'm not familiar with the 850 AC system, but on the 740, I had a bad switch assembly. BIG PITA to figure out the swap, but fairly easy when I did it. AC wouldn't go off in vent mode, one of the contacts had come adrift in the slide switch.

On the 740, Volvo used GM type AC (Cycling clutch, Orifice Tube or CLOT) -- if the pressure switch on the accumulator is bad, the compressor won't run. Unplug and jumper it -- if the AC works, get a new switch. If not, big leak.

Peter

I once changed the tranny in an AWD automatic Subaru wagon.....in my yard!!!!!!! NEVER AGAIN!

I bet that was fun, those 4EAT tranny's can be a B*tch to work on. Let me guess, the clutches wore out, and there was a binding issue...

And a prophy!

psfred,

how do you jumper the compressor clutch? what do i need to do it?

was it a climate control fuse or one of those one inch square block things?

Jen:

Start with the switch on the accumulator -- unplug it and jump the plug with a paperclip or something similar with the engine running. If the AC compressor engages (you will hear the "clack" as the clutch snaps on), either the charge is too low or the switch is bad. If the accumulator gets cold, it's the switch.

To jumper the compressor directly, find the clutch wire and the nearest connector, and unplug it. Hook a wire to the positive side of the battery and touch it to the wire going to the clutch. Should engage. If it then cools, it's not being switched on.

You will have to look on the fuse box panel to see which fuses are involved in the climate control, if you have it. If you have an automatic climate control, it will have a temperature dial. If not, it will work "simple" -- driver selects mode and sets heat level manually.

Peter