But we are all kind of nuts and love our Vanagons!!

John
On Jul 2, 2016 08:38, "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I definitely agree with Larry. One thing you will find as a new Vanagon
> owner is that most regular shops are not equipped or willing to bother with
> vehicles of this vintage, never mind the Vanagon with its idiosyncrasies.
>
> The air conditioning is American based but its installation layout makes
> for some servicing difficulties. The evaporators never go bad, the only
> thing that happens to them is they get clogged with dirt or the foam
> filter-water stopper disintegrates. There is an expansion valve that
> sometimes fails and there is a replacement for R-134a conversions.
> Servicing the evaporator or expansive valve is a labor intensive operation.
>
> A first waring sign that you tech was not up to the job is if he knew
> where the high side service fitting is. So did he remove the shelf and
> corner piece in the rear cabinet to get to it? Not only is it important for
> the high side pressure to be checked as part of normal AC operation you
> need to make sure the radiator/condenser cooling fan goes into the higher
> speed mode as pressure increases ~200 psi. There is a lot of electrical
> involvement with this system.
>
> As for charging the system I have really  found that the initial charge
> especially R134a has to done by weight. I also find that topping the system
> off or using the stuff in cans just doesn’t provide full performance. When
> these come on for service I begin by a full recovery. This also tells me
> how much was left. Was this a slow leak of do we have a problem. Now that
> refrigerant in bulk is cheap I then do a full charge, 1,400 to 1,500 grams
> seems to give really good results. Yes this is a bit over charged but all
> that hose length takes it. Much more and things will go wacky.
>
> At best the performance of the Westy AC is bit lacking. You get that nice
> cold draft on the back of the head and neck while the sun in your face
> keeps it sweating but properly working it provide great relief.
>
> And yes,
> VW- turning drivers into mechanics for over 50 years. You will soon be
> joining our club unless you have an awful lot of money.
> As for this being low cost way to travel I have some guidelines.
> If you couldn’t afford it new, you probably can’t afford it used either
> unless you get creative, skilled, and somewhat lucky.
> These vehicles were expensive back when they were available and they
> didn’t sell well back then. Fun Bus was on the dealers lot for almost 6
> months before I took it home.
> It was for sale because some previous owner no longer wanted it. It is
> best if you can figure out why.
> Whatever you paid it most likely was just a down payment. If you paid a
> lot your expectations are high and it will take more to meet or maintain
> those expectations.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Larry Alofs
> Sent: Saturday, July 2, 2016 8:13 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Air conditioning
>
> You should get a second and third opinion about that evaporator
> replacement.  There are many other and more likely causes for poor AC
> performance, low refrigerant charge being the most likely.
>
> With a recirculating system, if the air it's taking in is very hot, the
> air coming out is not going to be very cold at first.  I generally feel
> that my AC is working pretty well if it reduces the temp by 30F or so.
> This means that if the van has been standing in the sun and the air in back
> is 110F, the air coming out of the AC might be 80F at first.  After a few
> minutes of circulation, it starts to feel more like actual AC.
>
> Do you know if the system still has R-12 in it or if it has been converted
> to 134a or something else?  Did this tech actually measure the low and high
> side pressures with the system running?  It's complicated.   :-)
>
> I think the saying goes something like: "VW, converting owners to
> mechanics for over 50 years."
>
> Larry A.
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 2, 2016 at 3:02 AM, Gordon Mah <gordonmahung@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Thank you Larry, Dennis and Stan,
> >
> > I'll look for those "Bently" manuals even though I don't have a Bently.
> > ;).  I know it has freon because the tech I took it to told me that he
> > checked it.  Problem was that I was expecting air to come out the
> > front and side vents too.  Yes, they did come out the rear as you guys
> > said, although not all that cold.  Somebody told me that the
> > "evaporator" probably needs replacing.  We'll see.  I'm realizing that
> > Westy owners all seem to be mechanical tinkerers.  Does any air ever
> > come out from the side vents above the sliding door?
> >
> > Thanks again.
> > -g
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
> >
> > > On Jun 29, 2016, at 5:05 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > So the seller didn't show you how things work. Do you have the
> > > owner's manual? You may want to get one. As a Westy or vanagon
> > > newbie you will
> > want
> > > to get a Bentley service manual ASAP. Learn as much as possible
> > > before
> > tings
> > > break and get ready to catch up on some overdue maintenance. If the
> > > van
> > is
> > > low mileage it is a good bet it spent part of its life not running.
> > > As
> > old
> > > dormant systems and rubber/plastic parts are put to use you will be
> > > surprised as the things that will need service within a year.
> > >
> > > Freon is a brand name for refrigerants. How do you know the system
> > > has an adequate charge of refrigerant if you don't know how to turn
> > > it on? Does
> > it
> > > even have AC? For an 87 Westy the AC controls are usually to the
> > > right of the radio. There is no AC from the dash vents, only the
> > > vents over the
> > rear
> > > seat. It is common for these air conditioners to have both
> > > electrical and refrigeration/leakage problems. The electrical is
> > > somewhat complicated especially with the interface to the radiator
> > > fan. Alldatadiy.com is a
> > good
> > > choice to get service information including the wiring diagrams. On
> > > the Westy most of the AC electrical is inside the rear cabinet. You
> > > have to remove a shelf and that corner piece for the electrics ad
> > > high side
> > service
> > > fitting.
> > >
> > > Dennis
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > > Behalf
> > Of
> > > Gordon Mah
> > > Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2016 3:08 AM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Air conditioning
> > >
> > > Just bought me a 1989 Westy and I can't figure out how to get the
> > > air conditioning to work.  It has freon.  I tried all the knobs and
> > > vent
> > sliders
> > > and all I get is either heat or just air from the outside.  Does
> > > anyone
> > know
> > > the secret combination of sliders and their positions to make this
> > > baby
> > keep
> > > me cool on such hot days?
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> >
>