Thanks all for the pillar info. It turns out that the relays and fuses that
are specific to A/C are hiding right above the steering column and just
hanging there. This matches the somewhat well-hidden electrical diagram in
the Bentley (97.138) for the 1984/1985 version but does not match section 87
which shows the service procedures for A/C. The A/C stuff does not appear in
the main electrical diagrams. It is interesting that the radiator cooling
fan can be affected by the refrigerant pressure and thus has extra wiring
that does not show up in the main diagram.

Mike

On 7/15/07, Larry Alofs <lalofs@rcn.com> wrote:
>
> Pillars are lettered from front to back; A is by the windshield; D is by
> the rear hatch.
>   If your '86 is like my '91, you can remove the plastic cover on the
> inside of the left rear pillar and find lots of interesting AC bits.
> Good luck,
> Larry A.
> Just mounted my subie ECU and relays behind the cover on the right side
>
>
>
> Mike Frost wrote:
>
> > I'm trying to make sense of what the Bentley says about air
> conditioning,
> > but I'm having trouble reconciling my A/C system to those shown in the
> > manual. One thing that is slowing me down is that there are several
> > letter
> > references to the pillars but I don't know which pillars are which.
> >
> > Can someone fill me in on which is the B pillar, C pillar, D pillar,
> etc?
> >
> > My van is an early 86 model, actually built in July of 1985. It
> > appears that
> > the 1984/1985 wiring diagram of the A/C matches what I have. I'm having
> > trouble locating the Compressor Clutch Relay, the Evaporator Relay,
> > and the
> > A/C Relay. Bentley says they should be located behind the left rear D
> > pillar.
> >
> > Mike Frost
> > 86 Vanagon GL "Wasserleaker"
> >
>