David M wrote:

>...1987 Wolfsburg with non-working
>a/c. I live in Phoenix and its now around 110-115
>every day so I need it bad.
>My question how much should it cost to get a Vanagon
>a/c working. It did work a few years ago and then just
>stopped blowing cold. Can a regular a/c shop work on
>it or is it so unusual I should try to find a
>Vanagon-savvy mechanic?
>

My situation was similar -- '84 Westy with a long dis-used a/c in
Tucson.  I got a new compressor & drier from the Bus Depot, then had the
mechanic I use for the big stuff on the van (engine install, tranny
install) install the new bits and replace seals, etc as he saw fit.  Had
the system charged with Freeze 12.  Total for the shop work (incl the
Freeze 12) was $270.

One small leak was evident 2 months later -- he fixed it (no charge of
course).

On my 84 at least there was some uncertainty as to which model
compressor was needed -- Ron's staff at the Bus Depot went to some extra
effort on the phone with my mechanic to be sure the correct part was
shipped.  That may have saved some time & hassle.

It cools about as well as a these things ever do.  I don't have to tell
you that if you park in the sun on a 110 degree day the inside of the
van gets waaaayyyy hotter than that and it just has too much mass and
volume to effectively chill the interior.  I use a small 12V fan clamped
up and behind the driver & pointing at the driver to make the most of
the cold air trying to get to the front.

IMO, I was better off going to a mechanic I trusted (and who had an
incentive for keeping me cool and happy) instead of an a/c shop I didn't
know and didn't know me.

Choice of refrigerant is yours of course (lots of opinions here) -- that
would be the main variable in the $$$ equation.

Stay in the shade,

Geo H

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