A/C system missing compressor, what next?
 

Hi,

The a/c system in my 240d has the compressor removed but the rest of it is there.

I have located compressors for the year, make and model of my car on several websites. None of the applications say if they are designed for r12 or r134. Are those compressors made for the old style r12 refrigerant or will they work with either r12 or r134?

Do the new receiver dryers, accumulator, condenser, expansion valve, refrigerant oil, refrigerant hose, a/c system o-rings and seals work with either r12 and r134? Are all of these parts interchangeable?

I was thinking I could replace the compressor, receiver dryer, condenser, expansion valve, use the old hose, replace the o-rings (I assume the seals and o-rings are the same for r12 and r134), and have it charged with r12.

Just starting this project. Thanks.

You’ve got some reading to do! Lots of good AC threads in archives.

Re: compressors, far as I know, a refrigerant compressor is a refrigerant compressor.
Re: the rest, without knowing what’s been done to your system in the past, you’ll want to replace all of the o-rings. The only part that’s truly different is the expansion valve. The native valve was rated for r12 and had either a larger or a smaller orifice (can’t remember which). The replacement valves are all rated for 134a. That’s not to say that people don’t run r12 through them, but it is a performance consideration.

Did it have the York or the GM R4? What compressor will you install?

I have a Ford truck that has a York mounted like a Benz. I switched to a Sanden 5 very easily using this cheap $35 adapter plate I bought online. It literally was like bolting the Sanden right on top of the York mount plate.

I would explore this route if I did an early Mercedes diesel equipped with a York.

For my ACC2 cars I just put in rebuilt R4s. I was too cheap and lazy to jump through the conversion hoops - mounts, hose manifolds. So I just dropped in replacement R4s. They clearly are inferior to a Sanden in a number of ways but I picked my battles this way.

you didn't say what year 240d you have.
I did this to mine:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/407367-1977-240d-gets-new-ac-system.html?highlight=1977+240d

Compressors don't care which refrigerant is in it, but the refrigerant needs to use the correct OIL to match.
Since your system has been open, you need to flush out all hoses, and coils... will need a new txv, and set of orings