Greetings all,

My apologies if this has been covered here before, but I couldn't find an answer searching.

What is the best way to check the A/C charge on a non-running 1984 300SD?

Background: I'm preparing to pull out the engine and transmission to either rebuild them or have them rebuilt, and I need to disconnect the A/C. From the looks of things under the hood it's never been converted over to R134a. It's not running so I can't test by turning it on.

So, is there any way to find out if the A/C is full of refrigerant? If it is I'd like to pull that out and see it safely recycled.

Thanks,
-Marcus

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1983 300SD 467,000 km - 473 champagnermetallic

location: 34°5' N 106°53' W (Socorro NM, USA)

Punch the low pressure side and see if any juice comes out. I thihnk this violates all kinds of EPA crap.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

If you were going to be quite fancy you could hook up a pressure gauge to the AC line. If the system works it would have at least 25 psi in it.

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Just tried it now; I got a hissing sound and a chemical smell; I assume this means there is something in there?

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1983 300SD 467,000 km - 473 champagnermetallic

location: 34°5' N 106°53' W (Socorro NM, USA)

There's probably some refrigerant in there, but not enough to kick the compressor on. That means that it needs to be charged...whether it holds the charge for very long is another issue entirely. :\

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

If all there was was a hissing the system is mostly empty. If the system were full it would be a full on spray.

-Jason

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

You should have it vacced to do it right. I had a freeze13 converter valve on my old car topped off and the whole valve broke off trying to get it seat right. I watched a hole open up in the sky. I felt horrible for months.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42