Yep. It had a crack at the condenser fitting. Tried repairing it with JB
weld but it didn't hold. Can anyone out there tell me if the condenser for
the  90 Vanagon is the same as the 90 Westfalia? At one point the camper
condenser  was larger. I may have a 91 Vanagon condenser (used) that I could get
cheap. If  not I may ask if anyone on this side of the country has a used
Westy condenser  for sale. Saw one on the Samba but it didn't specify for
which model.  Thanks

David Clarkson
90 Westy

In a message dated 8/8/2010 10:21:37 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM writes:

This is  why shops are required to have recovery equipment.
You need two wrenches to  tighten this fitting. You have to hold back the
one
on the condenser to  avoid twisting it. The hose fitting or the seat in the
condenser fitting  may be damaged or corroded preventing the o-ring from
sealing. The  condenser may also have a small crack near the fitting. This
is
a common  failure for them.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From:  Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David  Clarkson
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2010 3:48 PM
To:  vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Need help with leak at fitting on AC  condenser

I have had great success in getting my ac running super cool  (34 deg. F. at
the center vent). All is well until the freon leaks out at  the larger of
the two  connections where the hose connects to the  condenser. I have put
dye
in the  system and checked for any other  leaks all over with a hydrocarbon
sniffer-none. I have tried all different  combinations of o-rings, different
sizes and even 2 o-rings and finally  went back with the factory o-ring
after all  sorts of o-ring swelling  (stop leak) chemicals introduced when
recharging. I  inspected it  again with UV light and found that it is
definitely
leaking at  this  one point. Cleaned up the dye here and gently turned  the
nut
on the fitting  about 1/8 of a turn. I have been scared to  crank on this
too hard and have the  threaded portion break off and  then have to replace
the
condenser. Has anyone  else on the list  had a leak at this connection? I
feel really confident that it  is not  leaking from a crack at the fitting
where it connects to the condenser  or  from where the hose crimp is. How
much
force should I use when  tightening this?  Am I likely to break off the
fitting
from over  torqueing? R134A isn't expensive  but not exactly cheap either.
Dang,  I am so close to having this fixed. Hoping  cooler heads will  have
some
suggestions here. I'd really like to charge it one  more  time and be done
with this project of epic proportions. Thanks list for  all  your help.

David  Clarkson
1990  Westfalia