Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 17:14:10 -0400
Reply-To: k1cajun@pipeline.com
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave L <k1cajun@pipeline.com>
Subject: Re: Leaky A/C in an '89 Westy
"Penberthy, Thomas" <TPenberthy@creativepro.com> wrote:
> Imagine my partner's surprise...
> We're cruising into a left-hand turn at the bottom of a hill when
> she's doused with a stream of cold water raining down from above
> (she was in the back seat).
> I know enough about A/C to understand that it's condensation
> accumulation, but I don't know enough about Westy's to know where
> the run-off is supposed to be going, and where it could be clogged
> up.
Hey Tom, another 89 owner here, not that the year makes any diff ...
I had the same problem, but it dripped on the rear cushion. The
condensation runs out hoses on either side of the van and down through
the black air intake louvers on the rear of the van. Unscrew those
two louvers, fish inside just forward of the opening, and you'll
find the hoses. They have rubber flapper valves on the ends to keep
from sucking hot air in. They could be clogged with debris. If that
doesn't solve the problem, then you will need to drop the overhead
A/C unit. Get out your Bentley (buy one if you don't have it), it
has very good instructions for lowering the unit. You don't need to
discharge the refrigerant.
One of two things may be the problem if the flapper valves are OK.
The hoses may be disconnected from the drip pan (this was my case),
or the hoses could be clogged.
Two things about reinstalling make the job a real PITA. The hoses are
a pain to fish into the holes to the outside louvers. But even worse is trying to get them onto the drip pan and raise the unit while
pushing the hoses outside. Really needs three sets of hands. The next time I do this, I plan on installing the drip pan and hoses
without the cabinet. Tape it all up there with A/C METAL tape. Then
cut the cabinet sides to have a slot instead of just a hole. Then the
cabinet can just go right up sliding aroundf the hoses. This idea
came from another list member after I already installed.
Your foam on the floor is probably some of the seals inside the unit
breaking up due to old age and the water and getting blown out by the blower. The seals help to make sure the only air blown is coming
through the rear vent and the evaporator core, not from the drip hose
holes or other places. If you drop your unit, you'll see and they
should be replaced.
Don't use your A/C until you do this, you don't want to warp the wood
cabinets!
