---- Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Evacuating the system serves two important purposes:
>
> 1 - it removes the moisture from the system;
>
> 2 - it gives you a good indication if the system is well sealed.  When I
> evacuate an A/C system, I will note the pressure in the system and let it
> sit for at least a few hours.  If the pressure changes at all, there's a
> leak in the system.

yes.  When I had my system redone, the shop required me to have it to them by mid-day.  They evacuated the system, leaving gauges in place overnight.  meanwhile they were doing non-air conditioning, scheduled work on other vehicles.  The next day, after determining no leaks, they then went ahead with my conversion.

mcneely
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> BenT Syncro
> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 9:06 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Vanagon a/c
>
> The system has to be a complete vacuum before you can refill. Otherwise, it
> will not cool as efficiently. Even if you kept everything connected which is
> highly doubtful, even sitting still the refrigerant leaks through connectors
> and the hoses when oil is not circulated in the system on a regular basis.
>
>
> BenT
>
> sent from my electronic leash
>
> On May 25, 2011, at 8:15 PM, Kevin Gilbert <kggilbert@MYACTV.NET> wrote:
>
> > 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

--
David McNeely