Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

wrenwright on Thu September 08, 2011 12:15 AM

Year: 1990
Make: Volvo
Model: 240
Refrigerant Type: 134a

I'm helping a buddy with his Volvo 240. The car was "converted" a couple of years ago by a shop in Atlanta over to r134a. Unfortunately, they didn't bother to replace the hoses with barrier hoses and the charge has mostly leaked out over the last couple of years so we're making new hoses and installing a parallel-flow condenser.

The shop that did the conversion installed 134a service fittings on top of the R12 fittings on the compressor.

I've always been under the impression that R12 fittings needed to have a cover installed when they were not in use. What about after the fittings are converted over for use with r134a? I'm wondering if he's losing some of his charge through the charge ports since they aren't covered.

I imagine that the fittings were put on with locktite. If not, I would like to remove them and cap with stock R12 covers. Then build the new hoses with hose ends with the built-in service ports.

Any opinions/advice?

Thanks!

Dougflas on Thu September 08, 2011 7:40 AM

Just about all service valves leak. The main seal is the cap so it is important to have caps on all of them.

mk378 on Thu September 08, 2011 8:56 AM

Conversion fittings come with caps. They have been lost at some point. The caps are somewhat standard sized, you can buy them separately or remove from a junked car. The tall aluminum Interdynamics low side converter should not be used, its prone to leak at the base. Use the yellow steel converters which include a shrader valve. Remove the shrader valves from the stock fittings first.