Do I need to buy a whole A/C switch..... 240D
 

Hey.

I don't think my A/C switch on my 1983 240D is working. I don't really know how to test it but my A/C does not even turn on at all (blower motor works though).

Since I am looking to buy an A/C switch I am wondering what I should buy. I have the switch that has a little wheel on it so you just turn it up or down. No clue as to what it is called so I cannot search for it...... any ideas as to what it might be called or where I would be able to obtain it ?

Thanks

Have you checked the fuses ?
Did it ever work ?
Did it fail ALL AT ONCE .... or offer some clues in things like " not cooling as well as in the past" prior to quiting ?
Is your Aux fan working when it should ?
Have you checked your vacuum lately ?
Have you looked at the wires coming off the Reciever Dryer ?
Have you jumped the compressor ( just long enough to see if it is not siezed) ?

Agree with Leathermang.......you've got 10 things to check before throwing money at it. Lots of these items can be checked w/o spending ANY money. And there is probably more than one thing wrong or marginal.

Report back to us about your findings.

WOW!!! I never knew there were so many things I can look for. I never had air conditioning in this car since I bought it. I do have my blower motor working. I would have no idea as to how to even begin with all the things you have mentioned.

You are either going to have to do a LOT of learning.....
Or find a good mechanic or friend to help you .....
Or get one of those woven bead seat covers and wear cool clothing.....

That's what I used in my Jeep for 12 years of towing trailers all over the country, worked terrible :p

I'll use that as advice when someone comes in with a shot A/C system in their 123 with ACC!

That is if I can't readily find the problem anyway - been lucky lately with about 4 peoples cars - all have running -R12- A/C now.

Ok i finally had a day off and I narrowed everything down.....

The switch does work.......

The A/C does turn on but the air that is blowing inside is not cold. I took off a little cap on one of the A/C pipes on the engine and saw a little needle (sort of like a tire valve), and I pressed it to see if anything would come out. Gas did come out so I suppose it is not leaking.

Any suggestions ?

It might not be "leaking" and it might have some residual pressure, but you probably STILL need to charge it. Check with a pressure gauge (one for R12.)

about how much should I be paying to charge an A/C System ?
I don't really want to get ripped off

Depends on what your car has for refrigerant....
If R-12 ....
then search for 608 air conditioning license,
study the materials provided, do the online open book test, send in the fee... about $15 ....
Then go on Ebay and get the amount of R-12 you need for your vehicle plus 10 percent for waste.
Then take your own R-12 with you and find a good mechanic... that way he will only be quoting you the actual labor charge ... and not adding undisclosed profit into the quote...
He will need to take everything out of the system, refill, check for leaks, and then refill.... I figure $75 -100 is fair ....mostly because you are paying for his expense of having to buy the specialized equipment necessary to do this....

If you have 134a then I think you can buy this at any parts store now... and the cost is pretty small per can... so you can figure this cost into the amount quoted...

Make that 609. At IMACA.

Yep, that's what I did. Was drunk at the time I took the online test too. Got my cert in the mail a few weeks later, started buying R12 whenever I could find it cheap (it's about $20-22 per 12oz can around here, usually needs about 3 cans for an empty system.)

I recently purchased a 1982 240D. The guy I bought it from said he put in a can of "Freeze 12". A synthetic replacement for R-12.
I "Googled" it and found it, but I still don't know anything about it.

Do you guys know about it?

It seems to be working just fine. I knew the car would probably need some AC work before I bought the car, because he said it wasn't cooling well, but it seems to be fine to me. This stuff supposedly does not harm the Ozone layer, so I may just put a can or two a year in, if I can find someone here in Little Rock to do it for me.

George

Well, well, well................

I read the aforementioned thread, and all I can say is that I am glad that I was not the person who made the decision to add "Freeze 12" to the A/C on my recently purchased 1982 240D.

It was done, before I ever laid eyes on the car in person.

So, if I get the drift, then I would say I need to find a shop which will replace my compresssor, and whatever else will needs replacing, and the recharge with R12. I don't think either my Indy or my Dealer will do that, but I can check out for sure.

I know my Indy switched my 190E to R134 a couple of years ago, when the expansion valve was leaking. He gave me no other option.

And my dealer has already pointed out that the 240D's compressor is leaking oil, and needs to be replaced, and "then we can switch it over to R134"

George