David, I'd have to look up the precise amount but at the VW dealer in
Modesto, CA, about two years ago I replaced my system and converted to
R134.  It was just under $1,000, something like $940 is my vague
recollection.  I cannot speak to  whether the system is too complicated for
non-VW folk to work on; I just needed it done as it gets around 100 degrees
most of the summer where I live and neither myself nor most of my family can
deal with that.  I literally feel sick when it gets that warm; I ought to
live in Alaska!  That particular dealer had two people on staff who had been
with the dealeriship 30+ years and still owned Vanagons, so I trust them to
work on mine although it can be pricey.  Unfortunately one individual passed
away last year of cancer, very sad, but their service manager still has his
Vanagon (aircooled) and can direct the mechanics and answer questions as
need be.

Donna, 87 Syncro

On Mon, May 23, 2011 at 1:06 PM, BenT Syncro <syncro@gmail.com> wrote:

> David,
>
> Just to put prices in perspective, it costs me less than $100 to refill my
> AC system in pricey California.
>
>
> BenT
>
> sent from my electronic leash
>
> On May 23, 2011, at 12:41 PM, David M <covrambles@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>
> > Well I have been given an ultimatum by the wife. Get the a/c fixed or get
> rid of the Vanagon. Its about to hit 100 degrees here in AZ so it would be
> nice to have working a/c again. The system was working fine around 10 years
> ago but lasted maybe one year after a $450 refill with freon at the VW
> dealer. It's still the freon (R12) system and I'm not prepared to pay the
> cost of regular R12 refills so it has to be a conversion to R134.
> > How much should it cost to have this done? I was quoted a $1000 flat fee
> by one place but that seems expensive. Is a lot of labor involved? Can a
> regular a/c place handle this or is the Vanagon system too unusual?
> >
> > -David (1987 Wolfsburg)
>