I have a 1990 240 wagon. Is there a way to improve the a/c? Its working
properly but is not as cold as modern units. It is hot in Texas,due to all
the petro-chemical plants and pick-ups.
phil

Add on electric fans are wonderful
I put one on my '90 and it helped ( I also did the factory retrofit kit ) it works nicely here in Arkansas
I had an electric fan on my '84 diesel too , switched by thermostat on radiator, and the other day I rigged it to come on with the AC and it helps quite a bit at low speeds( not to mention keeping engine temp from creeping up around town with the AC on)

Sorry, I don't have a Volvo anymore, but I still read this board.

One of the 2 fans on my '90 Honda, the fuse blew, and the car was running very hot when the A/C was on, and at idle, etc. I replaced that fuse, fan works, and the A/C is actually MUCH colder at all speeds now.

My advice would be to add a fan to the condensor, if I'm right the later model 240's had an extra electronic fan. That might help... Plus the elec. fan conversion in other postings should help all around too-- plus eliminate some of the pesky "air conditioner lag"

Good luck!

I always wondered why it was so hot in Texas and now you've explained it in a new and different way... I had thought it was either so much hot sauce (or solar radiation perhaps?) ;) Just kidding...

Definitely use the water hose to clean out the condensor fins and radiator fins. That will make a big difference in the ability to radiate the heat. The A/C is just a heat pump... it moves the heat from inside the cabin to the condensor in front of the radiator. Check airconditioning.com for some background if you are interested.

Ensure that the system is properly charged.

Several bricksters have reported good success with tinting the windows (3M film I believe) with infrared blocking layer. Also a reflective dashtop (I think Chris mentioned this) will help.

just a few ideas, scan the archives and good luck!!

TomD

Sorry... the website is: www.aircondition.com not www.airconditioning.com

Hope that helps,

TomD

Hoogie,

If you haven't cleaned the accumulated dirt and crud out of your A/C condenser lately ... a good blasting might help. The condenser, if you don't know, is mounted in front of the radiator and looks and acts a lot like the rad. Dirt and other road crud can block the small air passages in both the radiator and condenser. Give them a good cleaning with a nozzled hose from the front (I remove the grill) and back side (engine compartment). Often this can really improve the efficiency of the A/C system. The crud builds up slowly and you wouldn't notice a dramatic rapid decline in cooling but over time it can take it's toll. You might also check your refrigerant charge if you haven't already ... but I'd clean the radiator/condenser first. No cost, virtually no effort and it often helps.
Good luck and I hope your summer driving is cooler than it's been.

There has been some discussion about this lately. I don't know if '90 falls on the good side of the line, or the bad side, but I'm afraid it's the bad side.

I think in '91 they upgraded the evaporator core; I could be wrong.

I'm a pretty big fan of A/C, and I plan on taking some trips to hot areas (like Texas) in my car, so I have decided to plunk down the money and make my A/C work well.

I have purchased the A/C retrofit kit from FCP Groton. Pricey at $210 (I think it used to be $190..?) - it includes a new "more efficeint" evaporator core, expansion valve, some AC hose of some sort, and some misc parts. The evaporator core is the big win, I gather, though the expansion valve might be some new-fangled design that works better - who knows.

I will be switching over to 134a refrigerant which in my experience doesn't work as well. The new evaporator should help.

I also plan to mount a cooling fan on the condenser which will run when the compressor is on. I believe Volvo did this on later models, and is probably responsible for better cooling, esp at idle.

I won't have this done for a week or so, but I will let you know how it does.

-Steve

The A/C is not one of the 240's strong points. There are certain conversions and modifications you can do which should help some. Considering doing some of those myself. Check the archives. There has been plenty of discussion about that topic.



Jim 1990 244DL 201k w/ marginal A/C