Gary,

Before you do anything, other than the fan running, is the system cooling?
Unless your VW is different from all Air Conditioned VW's I've owned, the
fan is supposed to come on whenever the compressor is running.

Assuming you are using R12 (Freon), your low side should be between 30 and
40 and your high side should be about 2.4XAmbient.  (A little less than 2
1/2 times the outside temperature).  On all my A1's '81, '82, '83, the
pressure of the high side has nothing to do with the fan operation.  The fan
it turned on anytime the AC compressor is running.  The high side pressure
switch just turns the AC Compressor off if the high side pressures get too
high (Over 300) I believe.  It's possible that yours is different but I
doubt it.  Activating the cooling fan when the high side pressure goes up is
like chasing the cows once they've left the barn.

Before you tear into the AC system, please check these and post and I'll let
you know what I think-  Ambient Temperature, High Side Pressure, Low Side
Pressure, Duct Temp, R-12, R134a, or other refrigerant.

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary McEachern <glmce@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, September 11, 1999 5:49 AM
Subject: AC pressure question

>Hello
>Does anyone have a good idea of what the normal/min/max pressures should be
>like on the Air Conditioner's low and high pressure lines?
>
>My high pressure side is presently running around 225 and the high pressure
>switch, that drives the stage 2 radiator fan, is constantly on as a result.
>I'm having the expansion valve replaced today.
>
>Gary
>
>Gary McEachern, Reading Ma.
>'84GL,'87GL Wolfsburg
>'82L (4 sp, for sale)
>
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