Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 16:42:00 -1000
Reply-To: Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET>
Subject: Re: 89 syncro westy ac fixed (correctly this time)
In-Reply-To: <01C01739.EF462420.ddelben@airinter.com.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
David... you may well be right on several counts. The guy actually had to
take the unit to another shop and have them do it right, but at least it got
done... and he didn't charge me more... the other shop charge was out of his
pocket. Anyway, you're saying there is no difference between vw and other
car ac charging? He sure indicated that there was. Oh, well, now I know
where not to go for ac work... or probably anything else.
Oh, and just for the record... when done correctly, the ac in my van took
exactly three pounds of R-12. It works perfectly now.
Thanks for the feedback.
Mick Kalber
89 Syncro Westy "Daddy-O"
Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
62 Halaulani Place Hilo, Hawaii 96720
ph. 808-935-5557 fax 808-935-0066
hotlava@interpac.net
www.volcanoscapes.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of David Del Ben
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2000 4:05 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 89 syncro westy ac fixed (correctly this time)
6 Pounds of refigerant is ludicrous. Most normal cars take about 1.3 - 1.8
Pounds. Big interstate buses (holding 50-60 people) take about 20 pounds.
Vanagons I suspect will be somewhere in between - but much closer to the
Car side. Vanagon A/C's are no more different to any other A/C he will
encounter if he is at all competent.
You've been taken for a ride - he was charging the thing with a big hole in
it somewhere and letting that R12 go to the sky.
Also - you don't charge from the High side - you charge from the low side.
He was trying to baffle you with B*&*^% to cover his mistakes.
Caveat Emptor.
Buyer be ware.
Also - what's the story - sounds like every man and his dog can get gas and
charge a system in the US?
In Australia - it is so much more regulated. You have to have a
refrigeratio Mechaics liscence to buy and handle the stuff.
David Del Ben
85 - 1.9 Vanagon
-----Original Message-----
From: Mick Kalber [SMTP:hotlava@interpac.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2000 11:44 AM
To: johnpatt@warwick.net
Cc: ddelben@airinter.com.au; vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: 89 syncro westy ac fixed (correctly this time)
OK... time to report on the final fix on my ac system. Just over a month
ago I had to replace my compressor, receiver drier and expansion valve.
Unfortunately, local ac shop (not familiar with vw ac units) could not get
the unit to work after new parts were installed without adding six pounds
of
R-12 (that's the only freon available here). Several list people informed
me that six poounds is way too much and not the solution to the problem.
Anyway, it finally got fixed right. Seems, according to my tech, that vw
ac
units are charged a bit differently than other cars. My guy said usually
the refrigerant is added to the high side and then run awhile and the high
and low sides adjust to the right levels... but in vw's something else has
to happen to the low side after the refrigerant is added to the high. I
don't know what he was talking about, but perhaps John or David here can
elucidate us further. Maybe this is just a shop out in the middle of the
Pacific Ocean that didn't know about the difference between VW ac and other
cars, but it might be nice if the list members know what needs to happen so
they can see if the shop they use knows what the h*ll they're doing.
Anyway, the ac is REALLY cold now... they measured it at 42 degrees which
sounded awfully low to me, but who's to complain? Gets plenty hot here...
we can use it.
BTW, thanks to everybody who helped me out on this problem. List is great!
Mick Kalber
89 Syncro Westy "Daddy-O"
Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
62 Halaulani Place Hilo, Hawaii 96720
ph. 808-935-5557 fax 808-935-0066
hotlava@interpac.net
www.volcanoscapes.com
-----Original Message-----
From: John [mailto:johnpatt@warwick.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2000 9:22 PM
To: Mick Kalber
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: R12 Overharging is NOT a solution!
Hi Mick,
Something just occurred to me about your situation. If the evaporator
was restricted (not blocked or perforated)like a crimp in the evaporator
"tailpipe" or outlet, the following might occur:
1) The high side would NEVER be high because the compressor could not
get the necessary R12 vapor quantity due to the blockage.
2) The low side would NEVER be low because the vacuum of the compressor
could never act fully on the refrigerant vapor due to the blockage.
3) "Massive" amounts of refrigerant may be needed to counter the
evaporator blockage and get any cool down performance.
Think about this Mick and talk with your technician (if you haven't
choked him yet). I may have just thought myself out of a trip to
Hawaii....................
Regards, John
