I own a 1986 Volvo 240 DL Station wagon with the Sanden Diesel Kiki cylindrical air conditioner. I am attempting to remove the fitting from the low pressure side (large) hose that goes to the left side of the compressor and comes from the evaporator. Can you please tell me what size wrench I should use on that fitting? It seems to be a 28mm fitting, but no one makes a 28 mm crowfoot socket or flare wrench socket which will fit that fitting. I have open ended 28/30mm wrench, and the 28mm side fits, but I can't turn it because of lack of space between the B230F engine and the passenger side inside fender approne. What should I be using to remove this fitting? If a specialized wrench is called for, please supply manufacturer's name and telephone number and the part number.

Thanks very much for the help and input.

I did get the 28 x 30mm open-end wrench from Sears, item #00944518000 Mfr. model #44518. They also have a Craftsman 28mm Wrench, 12 pt. Combination
Sears item #00942934000 Mfr. model #42934 as well which is listed at $19.99.

Cost is about $15.00 through mail order (generally not available in stores), and it worked after I removed the air intake hose from the AMM to the Throttle body. Also gave me a chance to change my flame trap which was in need of revision. Wrench length was somewhat of a limiting factor and I had to constantly flip the wrench each turn in order to get the fitting to the point where it could be screwed off. The smaller hose (high side) I took off with a 24 mm crowfoot wrench which I bought in a set from Autozone for about $10.00.
I also found a 1 1/16 and 1 1/8 crow-foot wrench for about $23.00 from a local tool store called Paramount Tool & Equipment at 765 Fulton Street, Farmingdale, NY 11738 (516)249-3013 (www.ptetool.com). 28 mm is 1 3/32nd inches so these two fall between the mark and might work also.

Also the Sears wrench I found out later when I got their catalog with the wrench comes in a set of large wrenches Craftsman 5 pc. Wrench Set, Open End Metric Sears item #00943091000 Mfr. model #43091 for $39.99. I'm going to return the 28x30mm wrench and buy the set because it is better to have a wrench and not need it than to need a wrench and not have it!

The o-rings were a snap once I wipped off the fittings and lubricated them with oil for R12 compressors. I'm using that Freeze 12 stuff as my luck with R134a has not been good, and the Freeze 12 stuff seems to work well in my 87 Toyota so I think it will also work well in my 86 brick. I haven't changed anyother o-rings just hooked up one of those inexpensive (cheap) vacuum boxes you can buy on Ebay to my 2.5 hp 4 gal compressor that I set at 90 psi and let run for 45 minutes through the old manifold I got for $20.00. At first she was pulling 4 lbs constantly and then went up to 12 lbs of vacuum. When I closed the valve from the compressor it held at about 10 lbs of vacuum for 15 minutes and was still holding when I started to add the Freeze 12.

I also discovered that Stahlwille now has a 28 mm crow-ring 1/2 drive 12 point "spanner" wrench in their "440" line (Code 03 19 00 28) for $66.00 US though Baum Tools(800) 848-6657, www.baumtools.com, sales@baumtools.com, that can be purchased and probably would've done the job a lot easier, although more expensive, than removing all the parts necessary to get the Sears open end 28mm to swing. Its new so you'll have to wait for it to come from Germany, they don't have stock on hand as of this writting (July 30, 2004) at Baum.

By the way I called the Volvo Tech support number for speciality tools and asked them if they had something that would work on my '86 brick. After they stopped laughing they told me they didn't answer referrals on cars that old. Well its nice to know that we don't have any factory support for our vehicles even though they keep on telling me in their emails that the dealer body will support the vehicle. I called a few of the dealers on Long Island and was transferred from the Service Department to the Parts Department and then out the door! Really wants to make you buy another Volvo! No, I think I'll lease something else next time and then just walk away after three or four years. The Honda commercial about owning a six year old car as opposed to leasing a car for 3 years is really beginning to make sense, even though the deal probably doesn't make "cents".

We'll I've yet to get the unit to blow cold, but at least I don't have leaky o-ring on the compressor. I'll put another post on the board when I or someone gets it to blow cold again.

Thanks again for the help...and Keep Rolling!

I used an open ended wrnech, at around 45 degrees upward....
But of course all intake ducting should come off the car.

BTW A/C connections should never be tight, just tight enough so the vibration does not losten them - it's the o-ring that makes the seal, makes sure you put in a new o-ring and lube it well...

Greg Mustang

hi there i used a plumbers basin wrench, can be bought at home depot. maybe you all ready have one. i couldnt find anything else to fit either. works for me.

Ellen,

I managed to remove and reinstall my large compressor connection (88 244DL)recently using a short handeled, wide jawed ,adjustable (Cresent) wrench. I still didn't have a lot of room, but once I broke it loose it threaded off by hand relatively easily. Hope this is of some help.