Hi Mtngal,
    First I am no ac expert, just worked on a few and have a retired fishing
buddy who knows his ac systems.   If the ac system won't hold a charge it is
leaking somewhere. Where there is a leak you may notice oil.  Our vans use a
few ounces of oil and the leak will be wet with oil, especially if on a low
area. The best way is to have an ac mechanic use a sniffer / freon detector.
    I have changed the shaft seal on the 5xx series sanden compressor with
no special tools. I have tried to change the seal on a 7xx series sanden
without the seal insert/ extract tool and bought the tool with the 3rd seal
kit. I kept breaking a little collar without the special tool. The tool was
$20 - $30 from napa.

Darrell

----- Original Message -----
From: Debi Webi <mtngal@SIERRATEL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 12:54 AM
Subject: Re: A/C repair $ticker $hock - not "urgent," but "pressing"

> HOW DOES ONE KNOW IF THE COMPRESSOR IS ALRIGHT?
> Mine hasn't worked since I bought my van late last year.
> I think I mentioned this before in p-mail to someone but I wasn't
confident
> enough to try it then...
>
> I need a step-by-step e-mail tutor to help me through checking the A/C
> SYSTEM...
>
> Anyone want to step up to the plate? :0)
>
> Word before is: I've never done this before, is it something you think I
can
> handle?
>                                     Mtngal
>
>
> |      Napa has compressor shaft seal kits  for $10 - $20 depending on the
> | sanden model in your van and your discount rate.  The compressor is
> probably
> | ok
>