My '84 a/c parts have been removed and stored. If I decide to put the
system back together, do I still need to pump out the system? How?

Kevin
On May 23, 2011, at 10:06 PM, Dave Mcneely wrote:

> ---- 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, one year ago I paid Bavarian Autohaus, a two man shop in
> Norman, Oklahoma, $406.01 for:
>
> 1.  Leak check the system (none found)
> 2.  Drain compressor, flush, and refill with ester oil
> 3.  evacuate and  flush system
> 4.  Replace dryer
> 5.  Replace valves
> 6.  Recharge with R134
> 7.  Recheck system after one month for proper operation and leaks,
> repair if needed (was not needed)
> 8.12 months warranty on parts and labor
>
> That was in May last year.  I drove from here (Oklahoma) to Spokane,
> Washington last summer, sometimes in 100 F temperatures.  The AC
> worked fine.  It was not as cool in the van as in my air conditioned
> sedans of various makes, but it was sufficiently cool for mine and
> my wife's reasonable comfort.
>
> mcneely