Roger,

It might be worth mentioning here that the stock AC system on a Vanagon
was for R12. Unless the compressor was changed out for one designed to
run 134a,  the higher head pressure of the 134a will trash the R-12
compressor a lot sooner that would happen otherwise. A great deal sooner
if the AC has a lot of use on it. On the other hand, if one opts to move
on up to Freeze 12 or the like, it runs at head pressures near or at R12
pressures, thus extending the life of the R12 compressor. And of course
if you have swapped out for an R-134a compressor, you are SOL, because
you can't put the R12 back in because the 134a compressor won't handle it.

Just a few more kinks wrapped around this AC business.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Roger Sisler wrote:
> It may be that they told you something you have not written here. It is
> pretty difficult to snow somebody for two hundred dollars for just a
> recharging. These are very common.So are the snow jobs,though.
>
> If it is a pure 134a retrofit,you can buy a can of 134a and a hose/gauge at
> Advance auto for about $25.You can reuse the hose ,next time and the
> recharge will only cost $11,then.
>
> Recharging is ez to do. The 134a hoses are quick release,so they wont scare
> you to death attaching and removing them. 134a works at pressures  20%
> higher than R12,so it will leakout that much faster.The hose will only
> attach to the low side for charging.You cant make the mistake of attaching
> to the high pressure side.
>
> The Advance auto hose dosent use numbers on the gauge. Only three
> colors,instead.Charge the system up till the needle is in the green
> area,and you have done all you can do as far as a recharging goes.
>
> Make sure you dont have a freeze 12 system,first.If your retro fit shop did
> it right,they will put a sticker in the engine compartment that tells the
> refrigerant used.
>
> Good luck,Roger
>
>
>