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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by d352 on Mon Jul 31 19:00 CST 2017
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I bought a really solid looking 1991 240 today. She has a few small kinks to work out, one of which is the A/C.

The A/C fan blows hard (ha ha) but the air isn't cold. I'm wondering if she just needs a freon recharge.

I took some pictures of where the freon recharge port appears to be. Can anyone tell me if this needs r12 or r134a?

I added an image URL with 3 photos to the post but I don't seem to see those photos here.

Here's the URL: http://imgur.com/a/zvdXE

Thanks in advance,
Dan

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by Michael Yount on Tue Aug 1 08:09 CST 2017
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last visit: Thu Oct 23 20:03 CST 2014

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EVerything looks old/original -- so I'd guess it hasn't been converted. But MANY, MANY are converted without anyone adding any sort of decal or sticker saying so. To confirm - pull the caps off of the low and high pressure fill ports. If the fittings take a THREADED freon hose - then it's still set up for R12. If they take a quick-connect freon hose - then it's been converted to R134.

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by TheBrickTank on Tue Aug 1 10:57 CST 2017
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last visit: Thu Oct 23 17:54 CST 2014

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The fittings are NOT a sure thing.

I'm converting mine to R-134 and keeping the original fittings.

I'm using my R-12 hoses to supply R-134 to the system.

If it had been converted, only the receiver/dryer would have been replaced at a minimum, as that is what Volvo calls out as the only thing needed for the conversion, so the fittings on the compressor may have changed, OR they may not have, thus not a sure thing to check for a conversion.

That's why I stated earlier, there should be a yellow sticker on the receiver/dryer, which is in keeping with standard notification to the current owner or any future owner of the vehicle stating its conversion.

Matt

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by Michael Yount on Tue Aug 1 11:51 CST 2017
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last visit: Thu Oct 23 20:03 CST 2014

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TONS of DYI conversions out there Matt -- fittings added via a new hose(s) and off they go without ever replacing anything but the charge. No decals, no new drier, etc - even though it should be flushed, usually a larger condenser added, o-rings replaced, etc. My point is lack of a sticker isn't conclusive. However, if someone added the quick connect fittings - the only logical reason for doing that was because they wanted to add 134 via DIY WalMart cheap refrigerant.

Suspect it's all moot though -- that thing doesn't look like the hood has been up in......well, forever.

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by TheBrickTank on Tue Aug 1 16:39 CST 2017
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In regards to your comment on the hood being up, I agree. Looks like the Exxon Valdez inside there.

Point taken about the quick connect fittings. You are correct.

My son's 90' was retrofitted and it has the quick connect fitting on the compressor and some sort of other fitting on the dryer.

Doesn't really matter as the compressor is fried and when I cracked the line nothing came out so I'm gonna get a new dryer and rebuild the compressor and then draw a vacuum on it to see if it holds.

If so great, if not, I'm gonna pull the whole thing out and replace it with one from a 93' and go to town from there.

Later,

Matt

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by d352 on Wed Aug 2 14:51 CST 2017
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Thanks for the replies, everyone.

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by kittysgreyvolvo on Tue Aug 1 07:30 CST 2017
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Your engine sags rearwards towards the firewall. Motor / transmission mounts?

I'd say you have more than a few small kinks to work out.

Indeed, you may want to clean the engine bay at a self-service car wash or a hose with nozzle and warm to hot water at home, watching electrical bits (connectors, distributor). Foaming engine bright and let soak, or simple green and let soak, with a nozzle spray and clean it up.

Do you have service records? Brake fluid bright, golden and clear, to no more than the dark tan in the brake fluid reservoir? Timing belt last changed when? Or at least tension reset.

How old is the engine coolant?

Check OBD codes for a lark?

https://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/ - for systems shared with your 240.

https://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/EngineOBDCodes.htm

LH2.4 (& 3.1) Fuel Injection Fault Codes / EZK 116 and Rex Ignition Fault Codes
Ignore Regina and Motronic info.

Perform the task:
1. Diagnostic Test Mode 1: Fault Code Retrieval

As for whether R12 or not, well, turn the A/C on and the fan on with temp control set to cold and recirculate in. If you have charge enough, the compressor clutch will engage. As you are told, you can jumper the switch to engage the compressor to verify the compressor works.

Yet you have the condenser fan. These can seize. With cold engine off, spin the plastic blades.

You have refrigerant options if the system can hold a vacuum or has some manner of refrigerant in it.

http://www.duracool.com/-faq.html

Working with R-12 requires a U.S. federal certification.
--
Give your brickboard.com a big thumbs up! Way up! - Roger Ebert.

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by TheBrickTank on Mon Jul 31 19:23 CST 2017
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It looks to be original R12. If it had been converted over there should be a yellow sticker stating it is R134.

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by d352 on Mon Jul 31 20:05 CST 2017
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Thanks for the quick response.

Apparently you can still buy r12 so should I just try and recharge the system with that?

I also can't really hear the compressor turn on & off and I noticed that the A/C console switch does not light up blue when used (but the other console switches to have lights). So I'm wondering if maybe it's a bad switch. I'm going to try getting to the rear of that switch tomorrow and just shorting the wires to see if that turns the compressor on or not.

I don't know much about working on air conditioning systems but I'm guessing that I can hook some sort of gauge up to the system and see if it has sufficient pressure or not?

r12 looks a little expensive and I'd hate to waste money on a bottle of it if the system has other issues.

Thanks again in advance,
Dan

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by TheBrickTank on Tue Aug 1 03:34 CST 2017
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last visit: Thu Oct 23 17:54 CST 2014

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The photo's that you showed are of the receiver/dryer.

If you take off its electrical connector and short its plug ends together, and then flip the switch, the compressor should come to life. Don't run it long in this configuration as you do not know the state of your system and you could be low on oil and/or R12. Lack of oil in the system in this configuration will burn up your compressor!

If it still doesn't come on, then the relay behind the center console, on the passenger side needs to be looked at.

This relay is attached to the snowflake switch and is a delayed relay, meaning it takes about 5 to 10 seconds for the compressor to come on once the switch is thrown. You should also hear a audible click when it comes on and the main fan in the cabin will start up as well whether you have the fan on or not.

If you do not hear an audible click, then check the fuse panel to: a) make sure the fuse is good and making good contact, and b) that the physical wire is hooked up to the fuse panel itself. I had this problem on my 90' that I just bought. It drove me nuts until I had the driver side left kick panel off and found that the physical wire had been disconnected! Ugh! What a PIA that was!

Let us know what you find out.

Regards,

Matt

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Has this 240 had her A/C converted over to r134a? 200 1991

posted by Volvo From Heck on Mon Jul 31 21:07 CST 2017
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last visit: Mon Oct 13 20:56 CST 2014

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At the very least you should have the system evacuated and drawn down with a vacuum pump. That will at least help determine if there are any leaks. -- Dave

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