I have an '89, and it needs a recharge. How can I tell whether my brick requires R12 or R134a? And when did Volvo start using the newer refrigerant? I have the modern compressor, by the way.

Thanks in advance!

The charging valves for lack of a better word on a R134a system are quite large compared to a R12 system were they look like a tire valve. Just look at the drier and see what size the valve is. If it is the size a the valve on your tire it is a R12 system.
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90 744ti, Airbox, K/N, Cold air, G-Valve, Dual boost control, VDO, Modified exhaust. 88 745 gle, 99 Camry

I believe Volvo equipped their entire fleet with R134a starting in 1993, which would have been the final year of the 240. If I remember correctly, Volvo was the first company to offer retrofit kits to convert their older cars from R12 to R134a.

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
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'87 Blue 240 Wagon, 255k miles.

With that in mind, If I came across a '93 would all the AC brackets and parts slide right into my '89?
A transparent swap-out
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

I don't know if it would or not. -however you might be able to get a rough idea from the under-hood pictures of eBay auctions for '93 240 vehicles.

If it indeed would work, you would be advised to replace the Receiver/Dryer unit, the compressor oil, and as many of the O-rings in the connections as possible. The R12 has a tendancy to saturate the o-rings and oil, and it isn't completely removed from them when you vacuum down the system. R12 and R134a are chemically incompatible and will react with each other and create an acidic substance that can damage your A/C system. Ideally, you would want to use the Volvo supplied conversion kit and install the new components. The section in the 700/900 Air Conditioning FAQ gives you a rough idea of what is supplied in the conversion kit, but it would be different for a 240.

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
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'87 Blue 240 Wagon, 255k miles.

89 was the 1st year that had R-34A. Any volvo with the flip switch instead
of the turn switch has R-34A.

" 89 was the 1st year that had R-34A. Any volvo with the flip switch instead
of the turn switch has R-34A."

I just worked on a '90 240 and a '91 240, and both of them are R-12, and R-134a wasn't even available back in '89. Also, some of the early 240s of the '75-'80 vintage had the flip switch rather than the rotary temperature A/C dial, and they are R-12 also.

I don't doubt that you have an '89 with R-134a, but the previous owner would have had a conversion done on it.

"I don't doubt that you have an '89 with R-134a, but the previous owner would have had a conversion done on it."

I'd guess the P.O. converted the AC switch on that '89 too, if it's the "flip type" as implied. My owner's manuals show the switch changing to the rotary dial type in 1980.

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Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.