Don't be surprised if you get a shockingly high estimate from a shop for the repair.  I took my '87 Westy to a local A/C place that had installed a unit in my old pickup for $700 and was told $2000 for the Westy repair, probably to scare me away.  That inspired me to fix it myself.
The Bentley is a tremendous help guiding in the removal of the cabinets.  Curtain tray/spice rack and upper bunk mattress must come out so the grey plastic A/C plenum can come out so the upper cabinet can come out, etc.  Good luck!
Stephen 

    On Tuesday, February 16, 2016 11:55 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
 

 All it takes is money!  Hopefully you have a shop familiar with the Westy A/C and knows that the cabinet has to come down for access (top up, upper mattress out for access to the screws).  

 

The idiot PO of my son’s ’87 thought he could fix the A/C himself, and promptly ripped the entire bottom off of the cabinet, breaking both fans.  We scrapped the entire system and installed an upper cabinet from an early van, which we stripped and recovered with the correct gray Formica.  I was able to get the gray door trim from Europe, so it came out really well.

 

Stuart

 

From: Dan N [mailto:dn92610@gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2016 6:24 PM
To: Stuart MacMillan
Cc: Vanagon Mailing List
Subject: Re: A/C trouble... please help

 

yes Stuart..

 

I think so too...the A/C freon pressure came down a bit every year, recharged and working fine... but not as bad as this time...

 

I would think it's time for a complete overhaul... we will know tomorrow at he A/C shop...

 

thanks

 

dan