Pull the AC front grille and the driver's side speaker (total of about ten
screws.  You'll need a Crescent wrench with a wide jaw and a relatively
short handle (or the correct size wrench with said short handle).  PITA but
doable.

Karl Wolz

|-----Original Message-----
|From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]
|On Behalf Of Jamie Fitterer
|Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 8:26 AM
|To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|Subject: Re: Vanagon a/c
|
|Sorry about that.  I have an 84 westy.  I have been reading
|about lowering it and all the cutting slits etc..   My main
|concern is how I get the bootm side hose disconnected.  I can
|see the larger hose from the back but the bottom one is hard to see.
| > Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:19:43 -0500
|> From: jrodgers113@gmail.com
|> To: fittdog8848@HOTMAIL.COM
|> CC: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|> Subject: Re: Vanagon a/c
|>
|> I didn't catch what type vehicle you have- but on My 88Gl -
|AI put up
|> a stack of wide wood blocks, mounted a hydraulic jack on top with a
|> wide flat of plywood on top. Then I ran the jack up snug to slightly
|> lift the AC unit housing. With the weight off  - I was able
|to remove
|> all the hoses and fittings. Afterward I just lowered the whole thing
|> down. On a Westy - I wouldn't know how that would work.
|>
|> Hope this gives you some ideas.
|>
|> John
|>
|> On 6/28/2012 9:45 AM, Jamie Fitterer wrote:
|> > So with this cabinet thing.  THe upper COndenser isnt
|mounted to anything?  the cabinet just holds it there?  I need
|to replace my expansion valve as it appears to be plugged.
|> >   >  Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 21:17:24 -0400
|> >> From: dvdclarksn@AOL.COM
|> >> Subject: Re: Vanagon a/c
|> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|> >>
|> >>   It's not so much the parts but the labor that you can
|get into if
|> >> the cabinet has to be dropped to get to the expansion
|valve. If you
|> >> do the job yourself I would suggest constructing some
|sort of table
|> >> that can support the cabinet while you reconnect the wiring hoses
|> >> and other fittings. Be careful of the fittings on the drain tray
|> >> that will be very brittle and will break easily. My system was
|> >> working great and then one day near the end of the season
|last year
|> >> I heard a pop from up there in that cabinet and everything got
|> >> warm. I'm dreading going through that ordeal again.:(
|> >>
|> >> David Clarkson
|> >> 90 Westy
|> >>
|> >>
|> >>
|> >>
|> >>
|> >> -----Original Message-----
|> >> From: John Rodgers<inua@CHARTER.NET>
|> >> To: vanagon<vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
|> >> Sent: Mon, May 23, 2011 4:31 pm
|> >> Subject: Re: Vanagon a/c
|> >>
|> >>
|> >>
|> >>
|> >>    I have the same problem. Got to get the AC repaired.
|One thing I
|> >> learned the hard way - if y ou do not have freon and
|don't run the
|> >> AC once a week - the seals dry up and the freon leaks out. So you
|> >> are likely up for replacement of all the seals, including
|a likely
|> >> replacement of the Compressor. In an upgrade to 134a, you
|can get a
|> >> complete seal kit from Van-cafe for about $50 or from the other
|> >> List Vendors for similar money. You will also need a new receiver
|> >> dryer and possible a new expansion valve. Because the old AC
|> >> compressors were designed to run at the lower Freon 12 pressures,
|> >> the higher pressures of the 134a may poop out your AC compressor
|> >> fairly quickly. You really should get a new compressor
|appropriate to the 134a.
|> >>
|> >> 134a Upgrade Kit - $50
|> >> Expansion valve - $30
|> >> Receiver-Dryer - $30-$35
|> >> Compressor - $350- $400.
|> >> 134a - $35 or so.
|> >>
|> >> Not bad on parts. But then there is the labor. I've not a clue on
|> >> that myself. I'm going to try and do it myself.
|> >>
|> >> Good luck.
|> >>
|> >> John
|> >>
|> >> John Rodgers
|> >> Clayartist and Moldmaker
|> >> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
|> >> Chelsea, AL
|> >> Http://www.moldhaus.com
|> >>
|> >>
|> >> On 5/23/2011 2:41 PM, David M 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)
|> >> >
|> >> >
|> >>
|> >>
|> >>
|> >
|                                          =
|-----
|No virus found in this message.
|Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
|Version: 2012.0.2171 / Virus Database: 2437/5097 - Release
|Date: 06/27/12