I've been purchasing '80's 240s 83-89. I have four now, 3 wagons and 1 sedan. None of the air conditioners work. Is this just an aberration? Does anyone out there with a 240DL with over 150K have a working air conditioner that they have never had a problem with? Here in Wisc. it's more important to have the heat working and it seems cost prohibitive to have them repaired with the freon issues. Thoughts, opinions. It would be nice to have at least one working for the upcoming summer.

Bill,

I've got an '83 245 Turbo. It was over 100 degrees here this week and the AC works as well as it normally has (we've owned it since new). We've had to have it recharged a couple of times in the 18+ years we've had it, and it has never been as good as the one in our 850 wagon.

Steve

240's are notorious for having A/C trouble. But remember where these cars come from? A/C isn't really an issue in Sweden... 240's have plastic radiators too, over heating also isn't quite as big a deal in Sweden as it is here in Alabama. BUT the fact that these problems usually occur at 135K plus miles when American cars are usually starting to crap out anyway... Why should we complain? I just get mine fixed and expect it to break again in another 150K miles! Honestly, it really is a bargain in the long run...

Our 92 244 had a pressure sensor go bad last summer with 155k and now we have a blocked orifice. The ac guy will determine if the receiver/dryer($45 GM type) is deteriorating once he gets the orifice open to clean. The car now has 161k. I've spent $200 since new and expect another $100 for the current problem. Not bad for a system that is cold as a "witch's tit," in the sweltering 6mos a year Southeast.

I've had a whole mess of volvos, my first was a 145 which had good cold air until the belt broke, I was in Houston, I never really had the thing running right, but I didn't know much about the cars then. Fast forward seven volvos, a little more money and back into the hot climate. Rencently got my car charged up with Freeze 12, a product developed to replace R12. The ac man noticed a couple of small freon leaks on my system that will slowly leak coolant. It will last a least a summer and at seven bucks a can I can definitely afford to rent the ac. I'm in Louisiana now and I really appreciate the air conditioning. My wife's 242ti sat for a while and the expansion valve stuck not allowing the freon to get to the other side of the ac system. My answer is that the freon leaks out and needs to be recahrged with inexpensive R12. As well see previous posts (this week?)on the topic.

I bought my 82 242ti with working A/C and had to have it charged about

2 years ago. I think you have mostly answered your own question. My

other turbo had the A/C all fixed up except for a charge so when we bought

it we had a shop charge it. The system is designed to be recharged about

every 3-4 years and most people feel the cost is too much so you end

up with a lot of cars that don't have working air. By the time you buy

it, its been a long time so additional work like replacing o-rings and

such is usually necessary and all of a sudden it's $500. I like cool air

and its worth whatever it cost to me. I have also bought quite a few

240s and only one other car had working air besides my turbo. Its about

the same with other cars and people.

Dave 82 242ti