

| Subject: | Eurovan AC |
| From: | Don Gibbons |
| Date: | Tue, 9 Sep 1997 07:39:00 -0500 |
On the Transporters to the tunnel trip I saw a few EV's with a potential AC problem (just like mine) On EV's there is a receiver dryer (R/D) just infront of the right tire. Its VERY CLOSE. Many at TBT had R/D's that were getting ready to fail. Heres the problem: The R/D has a safety valve that is EVEN CLOSER to the tire then the R/D in general. On the early ones its a aluminium hex with a spring and valve inside. Its job is to open at about 500 psi and save the rest of the system from damage. But, since its REALLY CLOSE to the tire its subject to road damage and corrosion. When it goes the whole AC charge goes with it. Note: late R/D's have an improved valve (its a blow out plug) I Called VW and they looked into it but only offered me "at cost" repairs. Instead I made a stainless steel sleeve and epoxied it in. Still OK. Another list member (Rick, I think) has another fix: the valve is same as used on some Dodge cars (gasp!!) and is cheap and available. As you may guess VW does not offer the valve, only the R/D for $180. I will try to find the part number from dodge. But here is the rest of the picture: If the charge goes then the oil went too. This means that the compressor has no oil and if you drive like this long enough it will free-wheel and get ruined cause its running with out oil. If it blows get it fixed or else! Fan resistors: They are located in front of and lower then the battery. When the EV has ABS the ABS unit is on top of them. Combine this with the cover over the whole battery compartment and temps will get high. They dealer mechanics have sugested (un-officially) that adding louvers or a small fan by the resistors will fix it.
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