Date:         Mon, 15 May 2000 18:13:29 EDT
Reply-To:     KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Subject:      Vanagon A/C Fun
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Setting up A/C on my '84 Vanagon with the 2.1l engine was pretty easy.  The
van already had the A/C system installed and I just used the 2.1l bracket
that was left on the engine, flushed the system, put in all new o-rings, new
dryer, expansion valve, hooked everything up, pulled a hard vacuum on the
system with my trusty JC Whipme special vacuum pump ($70! and it works like a
charm), and then charged the system with Freeze-12.  Everything went well
until I tried to get the van to idle with the A/C on.  It would die
immediately.

Then I remembered that on all the other '84-85 Vans I had seen with A/C that
they had a valve mounted on the firewall near the air box.  I figured that
this must control the idle with the A/C on and the Bentley confirmed my idea.
 So I snagged one off of my '85 parts donor, got a plug from a donor harness,
and wired it in with ease (just get the hot wire from the compressor clutch
power and ground the other wire).  Then I teed into the vacuum hoses per
Bentley and it works like a dream.  I got 38 degrees out of the register
above the driver's head when the van sitting still on a 68 degree day (should
get colder as I go down the road).  Just wanted to share with the list in
case some folks are having problems getting their 84-85 Vanagons to idle with
the A/C on.  I don't know how this van's A/C system was supposed to work
since it never had this idle valve setup, but it works now.  The part number
on that valve is 035 906 283 A and it lists for $78 but you could steal one
off of a Jetta or Rabbit with A/C at your local junk yard for a few dollars
as it is the same switch.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
http://www.vanagain.com
John 3:16
Phone: (856)-765-1583
Shop:   (856)-327-0027
Fax:     (856)-327-2242