Hello all, it's been a while, but this old car is so dependable I don't find myself needing help very often!

The AC appears to need a charge. Looking under the hood, I couldn't find the fittings. Are they on the compressor?

Also, how can I tell if the system has been converted to R134A?

As always, thanks for your help.

BTW, it's a 1989 240.

 

Looking here, I can't see it, but you can be sure it's on the low pressure side, somewhere between the compressor and the receiver/dryer. You might want to check on the actual dryer. My friend has a Mazda and his fitting was on the dryer.

http://www.partsquick.com/ProductPic...7730%20Picture

 

The 240 fittings are on the back of the A/C Compressor.

 

Thanks.

I did find one on the back of the compressor. It has a red plastic cap on it. Is there another one?

I don't know how to tell if the car has been converted to R134A, but the one fitting I did find appears to be too big to fit the recharge fitting that came with the can of R134A that I bought.

 

You probably bought a can with the low side charge fitting.
Red cap means high side fitting.
Usually people don't put a low side fitting on because they can't get the low side hose on due to power steering line being in the way.
If that adapter is on there then most likely it is already 134a.

 

So you saying that there is another fitting on the back of the compressor?

Dang. I was hoping that I wouldn:t have to put the car up on the ramps. Can't get to that fitting (if there is one there) otherwise.

 

There is a screw type that looks like a big valve stem for a tire missing the rubber.
If you were to charge it from there you would need to install the 134 adapter.

Because like I said above most people don't install the adapter because they can't get the hose connected to it.

 

I believe thatis known as a Schrader (ms?) valve. If my car has one it means that it hasn't been converted to R134A, from what I've been told.

The DYI recharge kits from the local auto parts store are supposed to hook into the low-pressure side, which would correspond to Schrader valve. Either I have to convert to R134A or find a shop that still deals with R12. As far as I know, you have to have a license to get R12 in my state.

Thanks for your help. I'll climb under the beast tomorrow and see what's what. I'll post up my findings.

 

If you can take a pic.
If you had a red cap on it it might have been converted with a high side fitting only.