re: location of high side (pressure) service port on AC system, 93 240 DL wagon

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

doc@nospam.org - 26 Jun 2005 23:46 GMT

Hello:

Had the AC serviced and charged a few weeks ago but with more than a
week of constant use it started blowing less cool and was miserable to
drive, a real Swedish Toaster Oven.

AC shops in my area (and there are only two qualified other than the
dealer) have appointments available in mid to late July at the
soonest. The local Volvo dealer actually charges less than the other
two shops.

Anyway, I relaized I had an old friend who lives not far away who is
an R&D engineer for Carrier Corporation (inventors of the AC back at
turn of the century)

I call him yesterday and he says he has all the gear and get to his
house by ten AM and we can take care of it.

He did dye injection and we soon found a leak in the condenser. Pulled
the condenser and soldered it and things look good

Only problem we had was finding the high pressure service port--which
made it difficult to determine how much R-134A to add to the system.

As a "workaround" he pulled out a large digital scale and weighed what
he was adding to a point he knew was still safe--but no guarantee it
is full charged.

Can anyone here give me a tip on exactly where the HS service port is
located?

I have someone I can call but they won't be available until tomorrow,
so am hoping to get an answer tonight so I can finish this project.
TIA,

Doc

Reply to this Message

Mike F - 27 Jun 2005 13:43 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>
> Doc

Of course now it's tomorrow, but there should be a label under the hood
that tells you just how much to add by weight, which is how you should
do it. There used to be service ports, both high and low, on the
compressors back in the R12 days (up to 1992 for Volvo). The '93 240
A/C is a bit unique as it was the last year for the 240 and the first
for R134a, but I believe there's a pressure switch on the high pressure
line between condenser and expansion orifice that's purpose is to turn
the auxiliary fan on. You can temporarily remove this switch and test
the pressure there, but you should really add refrigerant by weight.

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

Reply to this Message

doc@nospam.org - 03 Jul 2005 23:29 GMT

<snip>

>> Hello:
>>
>> Had the AC serviced and charged a few weeks ago but with more than a
>> week of constant use it started blowing less cool and was miserable to
>> drive, a real Swedish Toaster Oven.

>> As a "workaround" he pulled out a large digital scale and weighed what
>> he was adding to a point he knew was still safe--but no guarantee it
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>the auxiliary fan on. You can temporarily remove this switch and test
>the pressure there, but you should really add refrigerant by weight.

Hello Mike:

It's now a week later and I thought I'd provide an update....

Ran into a lad I've fmet before who is a Volvo fanatic and while not a
tech knows the later model 240's inside and out.

I asked him where the high side service port was and he knew
immediately, had me pop the hood and pointed it out.

It's at the dead top center on the back of the compressor and is
covered with a hex shaped metal threaded cap.

Mike, while you are correct that one could check high side pressure by
removing the pressure switch (actually called a thermal switch in the
Haynes manual,) that might have required plumbing we had no desire or
time to do.

I've since checked and removed the hex cap on the back of the
compressor and it is indeed a service port--just plug on the gauge and
one is in business.

It will be 7 days of weather in the 90's and humid since we recharged
it and I added the 2 part sealant kit (can't afford a new condenser at
the moment) and all looks good. I've been running it all the time.
I ran a digital probe to the AC vent above the centre console and on
a day when it was 98 degrees f (36.66 Celsius) yesterday and 68%
humidity the recorded temp out of the vent was at 55 degrees farenheit
(12.77 Celsius)

I'll drive it another week as we are supposed to have a lot more
really hot weather, but things are looking good.

Will go next SUnday to see my friend and check for leaks with the UV
to see if anything shows up and will kepp you posted.

Thanks again,

Doc

Reply to this Message

doc@nospam.org - 08 Jul 2005 00:11 GMT

>> Hello:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>the auxiliary fan on. You can temporarily remove this switch and test
>the pressure there, but you should really add refrigerant by weight.

Hello Mike:

We did add refrigerant by weight, but it's nice to know where the high
side service port is as it can be helpful.

BTW, can't recall if I mentioned it, but I've since determined the HS
port is TDC on the back of the compressor.

Thanks,

Doc

Reply to this Message