Didn't you just recently add refrigerant? Not a good idea to just keep
topping off a system.

The radiator fan should be running in a low speed whenever the AC clutch is
engaged. Either excessive head pressure or the radiator fan switch high
speed will put the fan into high speed. If the radiator switch puts the fan
into high speed the AC should disengage until the rad temp goes down.  It
should be a rare occaision for the fan to run in the high speed mode.
Usually this is a sign of an over charged system.

R134a is a zoetrope. When it leaks out not all of the compounds leak out at
the same rate. So when you just add you lose a lot of the efficiency and
things go wrong, you can't rely on pressure readings to determine a proper
charge. Charging should always be done be recovering what is left,
evacuating the system, and then charging the system by weight. The proper
fill is 80 to 85% of what the system called for in R12.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
JRodgers
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 11:18 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: AC Question

AC was putting out the barest of cool air on full at night - could not feel
but hot air during the heat of the day. Added R134a and now it works great.
BUT - it seems the radiator/condenser fan up front runs as long as the AC is
turned on - and I think that is as it should be -or is it? But this evening
- while ambient temp was still quite warm, not far from home I turned the AC
off when stopping for a light (idle stabilizer doesn't work so engine would
stall otherwise) and when I turned it back on - I noted that
radiator/condensor fan didn't work - didn't turn on.
The AC continued to put out cold air - but now fan doesn't run - which
incidentally up to now sounds like a jet engine running.

Can anyone tell me about how this is supposed to work - and do I have
something wrong? Or am I fretting over nothing?

Thanks,

John