It has been found (on the list) that the crimp connection is
the problem here. Cut off the lug and install new ones. They will
no longer over heat. Check out last years archieves. Worked for me.
More of the problem was the relay crimps connections. I have not
benn able to do anything with them.

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler

On Tue, 6 Jul 1999 KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:

> As I was charging my customer's A/C system today I noticed what looked like
> whisps of smoke coming from the metal fuse under that plastic cover on the
> driver's side in the rear of all '87 or newer Vanagons with A/C and inside
> the rear cabinet on Westies.
> Well it was smoke.  I shut the system down and noticed that the two philips
> head screws on each end of the fuse were loose and had corrosion under them.
> I carefully unhooked them (they are always live) and cleaned up the
> connections with scotch brite.  Then tightened everything back up.  The
> screws still got hot to the touch but no smoke.  Good thing I was charging
> the system with a gauge set and had to remove that cover or I might not have
> known about the problem before it was to late.
> If you have a later model Vanagon and you are running your A/C this summer,
> check this out.  My Carat system is the same and it gets really hot too (even
> after I cleaned it up as well.
> Ken Wilford
> Van-Again
> John 3:16
>