Further accentuating the positive, we just returned from an 8-day trip to western South Dakota and Wyoming in our new-to-us '87 Westy Weekender.

Throughout the 3,000-mile trip, over numerous passes as high as 11,000 feet, the Vanagon ran flawlessly (albeit it a bit slowly on some of the climbs).  Our three kids loved the space, we all enjoyed the superb visibility, and we got a kick out of waving to all the other Vanagon and Westy owners we saw along the way.

We averaged 20 mpg, and maybe used 1/4 of a quart of oil.  Temps were rock steady throughout, and the coolant level stayed constant.

The only fly in the ointment was that our A/C dripped water out of the ceiling the first and only time we used it on the trip.  We stopped and I disassembled the upper cabinet to have a look (a process just short of beginning with "Remove the front grill" in terms of hassle, BTW), thinking that the evaporator tray may have been cracked, or or a drain hose may have come off -- I had already removed the little end caps that were plugged with gook.

Nothing was immediately apparent, so I double checked the hoses and put everything back together.  An hour later, the dripping returned, so we left the A/C off for the remainder of the trip.

Checked the Archives when I got back, and from what I read, it seems that the solution is to turn the A/C fan off every so often to relieve the vacuum that keeps the water from draining out.

Does anyone else have any insight into this?  Am I missing something obvious?

TIA,

Tom Probst
'87 Weekender

> ----------
> From:         Royston, Jerry
> Reply To:     Royston, Jerry
> Sent:         Tuesday, July 9, 2002 8:38 AM
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      Nova Scotia Trip Report or why I love my Vanagon/Westy
>
> Got back from Nova Scotia yesterday and had a great time.<SNIP>