I had the similar problem 4 years ago.  My compressor clutch would switch
off after I turn the A/C on for 1 minute.  I traced to the left rear D
pillar area with S0 50A fuse and A/C relay (the biggest one of the three,
rightmost, black).  The fuse was OK.  Finally I found the plastic seat for
A/C relay had melted a bit.  I took the seat out, pull all connectors and
found the problem.  The red wire from S0 50A fuse to A/C relay was too hot
and melted the female connector and plastic seat for relay and caused the
bad connection.  I replaced new plastic relay seat, female connectors, new
wires and fixed the problem.

Good luck.
Yi-Ruey Wei
87 Vanagon GL Syncro  w/leaking cylinder head
85 Jetta GLI  w/165,000 miles
Dallas, TX  (Back to 100 degrees)

EMZ <vw4x4@FYI.NET> on 08/09/98 02:16:55 AM

Please respond to EMZ <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
To:   Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
cc:
Subject:  Air Conditioning wiring burning

The heavy gauge wiring that goes to the 50 amp fuse
started to burn tonight as I was driving. The AC was
on, and I have been having problems with this wiring,
earlier this week. No fan on speed 3 only.... Kinda
strange, I went back to the C-piller and bumped a
relay and the fan started to work. Tonight it seams
to take a punch to get it to work, next thing
I knew the smell of burning wires.......SO I turned
it off. Checking things out showed the wiring to the
50 amp fuse and that area were hot.

                       Eric

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