Hello -

Whe I bought my 1986 244GL daily driver in 1999, the compressor would kick in only by jumping the terminals on the low pressure cutoff. Blows only ambient temp air.

Subsequent checking has revealed (1) the compressor has a RS134a fitting, but there is no tag showing coversion thereto.

(2)The a/c shops I have talked to will not touch it since they cannot tell what was in there.

(3) There is no pressure in the system now, it has not been leak checked.

(4) The high pressure hose, compressor to condenser, has a muffler in it about center of the way across the condenser. My Volvo tech said that hose was changed way long ago. This implies that the system is original equipment.

(5) The evaporator has been messed with, doesn't fit right in the place for it.

So - What's the question? This is the year for cold a/c. (Warm winter equals scortching summer, right.) I will no doubt need a new compressor. Besides the 1986, the wifemobile, 1988 244GL, has been thus diagnosed.

There are three I am looking at:
#1 looks like the one on the car. It is a rebuilt unit, no brand listed, sold by a rebuilder.

#2 is a private seller, off a 1987 740, B230FT. Looks like the one on my car. Low price. Tag on firewall sez converted to RS134a, compressor has R12 fittings.

#3 is another private seller. New-appearing Sanden SD-510. Sez never used. Book sez it's for a 240 with 24D engine. If that one will fit my mounting, it may be the best deal of all - balance between price and "newness".

So - do you have any thoughts on which way to go? As always money is a major consideration. Plus, my gauges and stuff are for R12. I think my vacuum pump will pump whatever.

Thanks for reading this far, and for any words of wisdom you may send my way.

TIA

Bob

:>)