Hi Mike,

So when I opened up the front passenger door of my 1990 240 DL Sedan, I found an electric lock actuator. Curious, I did not find one of those in the driver's door when I was replacing the exterior door handle...but then I was not looking for it. I also do not remember seeing the paired relays under the dash. Did the DL's come with electric locks or is it more likely that this is a replacement door.

Not exactly sure if it was 81, but about that time all 240s had central locking in North America. None but the 242 ever had an actuator in the driver's door.

The relay pair is behind the center vents clipped to the support rail.


There is no sticker in the engine bay like tones I saw on the three cars in the PnP indicating it had been converted. What is the easiest way to tell if it has actually been converted?

This is not so clearly defined. If it has quick disconnect adapters anywhere (compressor, or near dryer) it has probably been converted. Whether properly or not is hard to tell, and missing a warning sticker of any kind would tell you it probably was not (properly) converted.

The 1990 is the last TXV year, so you won't have the shiny GM style dryer at the firewall -- that's not a clue to its conversion, just a clue to its being 91 or later with CCOT GM style AC. 91 and 92 got those in 240s using R12, and then in 93 the same system was factory filled with R134a.

A proper conversion of a 1990 (according to Volvo) gets you a replacement evaporator, TXV, compressor to condenser hose, and a new dryer at the right headlight location. Fill ports are quick disconnect, and O-rings and oil get changed, and a big blue and white sticker gets added to warn the next guy working on the AC.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

One day, a man came home and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very sexy nightie. 'Tie me up,' she purred, 'and you can do anything you want.' So he tied her up and went golfing.