Date:         Mon, 19 Jun 2000 22:46:32 -0700
Reply-To:     "Tom L. Neal" <jneal@netcom.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Tom L. Neal" <jneal@netcom.com>
Subject:      Clear A/C drain valve, or have a smelly swamp
Comments: To: Syncro List <Syncro@onelist.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Note to the wise who are running air conditioners:  To avoid the "my
Vanagon is a smelly wet swamp"  effect, consider checking the two drain
hoses behind the louvres at the upper back corners of the van to make sure
the air lock valves (looks like a little rubber cap) on the rubber drain
hoses are clear and not stuck shut due to dust and dirt.  Good to clean
them out, thus letting the evaporator water drain out so it won't back up
into the tray and overflow throughout the back of the van.

In the continuing saga of trying to create a reasonable design for the A/C
drain hoses (thus avoiding a 3rd smelly swamp effect) , the little tubes
splices with the air locks on the end that I have sticking out the louvres
work OK, but they do trap a little water at the bottom of the dip, they
dribble water down the side of the van, and they are exposed and in the
way, plus they look weird.  Next I'm going to find some way to have them
stick out below the van so the water can flow vertical, but have them in
such a place that the valve can be easily checked and kept clean.  Not too
hard on the left (while avoiding dribbling on O2 sensors, exhaust pipes,
etc.), but the right has a floor in the cavity that may need a hole
drilled in it.  For some reason, much more water drains out the right than
the left.

Fun with Vanagons.

Cheers, Tom Neal  '87 syncro