In a message dated 98-05-25 16:34:10 EDT, you write:

<< Subj:              Re: Air conditioning
 Date:  98-05-25 16:34:10 EDT
 From:  SyncroHead@AOL.COM (SyncroHead)
 Sender:        Vanagon@VANAGON.COM (Vanagon Mailing List)
 Reply-to:      SyncroHead@AOL.COM (SyncroHead)
 To:    Vanagon@VANAGON.COM

 In a message dated 98-05-25 06:11:52 EDT, MWhit80095@AOL.COM writes:

 > Has anyone had the misfortune to lower  the air conditioning houseing from
 > the back of a 87 vanagon. Anyone know how to put the  A/C ducting back on
 the
 > roof ie reach the screws that hold the the ducting???that runs to the
front.
 I`am
 > so glad I did this.......really I am......*#@*%~!**^&$

 SOmetimes these ducts crack from weight & vibration.

 This became such a problem that VW has issued a recall on the AC ducts to
 install (you guessed it) brackets!  See your VW dealer and tell them that you
 want the recall done (at NO charge of course).  I suspect that they might
even
 supply new ducts for you if yours are severely damaged.

 I had removed & reinstalled my ducts several times (adding wiring for gadgets
 of course) and realized the deficiency in the plastic & mounting methods VW
 choose for the A/C.  I strengthened the mounting points where the screws
 penetrate the duct by adding fiberglass and then using a larger washer to
 spread the load over a greater area.

 If you need to replair this area on your ducts, you can get a small
fiberglass
 kit at most auto parts stores that comes complete with the fiberglass matt,
 resin, catalyst, and instructions.  If you do this, also pick up some acetone
 to clean up with.

 After beefing up my ducts (before they broke) VW announced it's recall of
 these ducts, acknowledging that an A/C duct falling on a driver could pose a
 bit of a safety concern.  Their fix is to install brackets inside the duct
 where the duct mounts to the ceiling.  These brackets basically act as VERY
 large washers distributing the weight of the ducts over about a 16 square
inch
 area compared to the original washer area of about 1.5 square inches.
Despite
 the fact that I had beefed mine up, I had VW do this recall in both of my
vans
 for no charge.

 The removal sequence to the ducts is to remove the side-to-side duct above
the
 front windshield first.  Removing this includes removing both the sun visors,
 since one of each pair of these screws also helps hold the duct up. Then work
 your way toward the back removing each piece in sequence.  The base of the
 duct is never removed from the remainder of the duct, it's really a one piece
 factory assembly.

 When reassembling, the installation sequence is just the reverse.  The back
of
 the rear front-to-back duct is held up by the evaporator housing and you
 install the pair of screws in the front of that duct section (where you haave
 access to them).  Next you install the second section of front-to-back duct.
 The rear of this section is held up by the previous section and you install
 the two screws in the front of it where you have access.  Don't press each
 section frimly against the previous section, leave a small gap (it'll be
 covered by the rubber strip) or you whole assemble will be too short to reach
 the front properly.  You work forward untill installing the section over the
 windshield, this last piece is a 2 person job, someone holding while the
other
 installs the screws.

 There.  It's as simple as that!  Glad I could help.

 Good luck,
 Jim Davis
 87 GL Syncro
 88 GL Wolfsburg
  >>
jim ,  do you know what years were covered by this recall I own a 1981 with
air unit on top in thhe front of the van and it has some really bad cracks in
the plastic housing...................

TIA

joe hunt