I second Mikes idea:

I am still in the process of doing the wiring for my AC.  When I put the
meter to the fan switch is didn't work at all.  So I took it apart and
carefully cleaned up the contacts, which had a small but thick and
significant deposit of copper oxide green looking stuff on them.  I used
some fine grit wet sanding paper, no water, just enough to clean it up.

I then spread the grease on the rest of the switch back over the contact
areas.  I think this grease is meant to keep the contact from corroding.

All fixed!

Do it, it's cheap and what have you got to lose?

Kim Springer
'89 Tristar 2WD White

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Collum" <collum@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: Camper A/C Switch (Outrageously Expensive)

> Ray,
>
> I have the same switch on my '85 Westy.
>
> I opened mine up, cleaned it, put it back together and it now works.  I
> may end up installing relays so the switch isn't stressed by the heavy
> current.
>
> Mike
> Houlton, Maine
>
>
>
> Ray Reinhard wrote:
> > I guess I'll just post my question again and see if there are any other
> > folks out there (parting out a Westy, perhaps?) who can help:
> >
> > I am in need of a new switch for the A/C on my '86 Vanagon Camper. This
is
> > the switch that controls on/off, fan blower speed, and temperature. At
> > first, my VW dealer told me that he thought this would run around $25.
When
> > I came back to pick up my van that afternoon, he told me that this
> > particular A/C needed a special switch that COSTS $450!!! At first, I
> > thought he was joking, but he assured me that this was not a joke. I
called
> > my local VW recycler and they said they couldn't help. Surely, someone
among
> > you must have a solution that costs less than $450. (I've called
Camelback.
> > They also quoted me a price of $450.)
> >
> > The switch is located on the dash, to the right of the fresh air vent
and to
> > the left of the steering column. It has two parts: an inner circular one
> > that toggles through 4 settings and an outer one that that is a
> > potentiometer (?) (moves smoothly, with no "stops"). The inner one
controls
> > A/C on/off and fan speed, while the outer one controls temperature.
Behind
> > the switch is a black piece of plastic with the following in white
> > (clockwise from lower left around the switch assembly): MAX COOL, A/C.
OFF,
> > HI. Just to the right of this (on the same plastic piece) is (from top
to
> > bottom): a fan icon, a vertical line, and the word TEMP.
> >
> > The part # that I got from my VW dealer is 411 963 107-C
> >
> >
> > Thanks for your help!
> >
>