Volks,

Been off list in lurker mode for the last two years while I've been 
building a big addition on the house.  I really should have rented the 
movie "The Money Pit" before I started just so I had a better idea what I 
was getting into.

Anyway, the missus can't handle the heat and this spring our 89 Westy wasn't cranking any cold air out of the AC.  I remembered from when I was an 
active list member that there was a lot of discussion about the R12 to 
R134A conversion.  My regular "guru VW mechanic" doesn't do AC stuff but 
recommended me to the only other mechanic in town that I trust.  Two years 
ago he recharged it with R12 and things were hunky dorey.  This year he
informs me that he got out of the R12 game and was only R134A, could do 
the conversion for me, and that common wisdom that now prevailed was that 
all of the conversion of dryers, evaporators, compressors, etc. that were orignally discussed in the AC field were found to be unneccessary.  I trusted him, based on other work he's done for me, so I gave him the OK. 

I probably should have checked the archives but my internet connection 
these days stinks, and I usually climb off the ladder at dusk after working
 the day on the house and I'm too tired to do the homework.

Anyway, long story short:  He does the conversion, puts in a tracer dye 
and sends it home $100 later.  Next day we see leaking freon under the 
back cabinet.  Take it back to leave with him to find out what's wrong.  I 
finally call after a couple days and he tells me he had to replace the trinary switch behind the cabinet because its leaking profusely.  (Course he got the part from VWOA before I found out so I paid $80 more than I should have.)  He 
recharges it and sends it home $230+ later.  I get it home, get out of the 
van and hear a hissing coming from the rear.  Pop the engine compartment 
lid and a rather loud hissing is coming from the compressor.  I return to 
him, he shakes his head and says he can't imagine why these components are 
failing like this.  He explains to me that the R134A particles are smaller 
than R12 but also tells me that he does 4 conversions a day without these 
problems.

So here's my dilemma:  Can I rebuild this compressor?  Who manufactures it?
Are there rebuild kits available from any of the list vendors?  Or should I just go with a new compressor from BD?  Is this an unusual problem or did I do something stupid by not consulting the list first?  What's conventional wisdom on the list:  Change evaporators/dryers etc. or not?  Will I ever have AC again without giving up my first born?

I remain in lurker mode but will monitor the list.  Pmail would be 
appreciated.  Send to jfritz@willinet.net

Danke,
Jim in Iowa
91 Passat Wagon
89 Westy
66 Beetle
92 Ford Ranger