Date:         Tue, 4 Jun 2002 22:43:05 -0700
Reply-To:     G Challis <gchallis@CENTUM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         G Challis <gchallis@CENTUM.COM>
Subject:      Re: A/C Advice Needed -- Kind of Long
In-Reply-To:  <29931-3CFD8B20-10069@storefull-2354.public.lawson.webtv.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I know this advice is a bit late, but Burroughs & sons automotive repair in
El Sobrante are good with A/C repair, treat you fairly, etc.  I have taken
several vehicles there, including the vanagon, to fix things other places
either wouldn't or couldn't do.  They installed a new compressor and
receiver I bought from the Bus Depot with no problem (they encouraged me to
buy from the Depot when we discovered the price from the dealer).  They
charged $430 in 1999 (inc. $120 for freon) and it's still blowing cold.  El
Sobrante is halfway between Santa Cruz and Sacramento!

just fyi, the usual disclaimers, etc.

Graham
90 GL auto CHC - A/C

-

Ever since we bought our van in 1990, we have had problems keeping the
A/C running well. From 1990 to 1999, we took the van to a leading
independent A/C repair shop in Sacramento, spending a total of over
$2,400 over this period. Components repaired and/or replaced included
the drier, condenser, and compressor (the latter was replaced in July
1999).
In August '99, we moved to the Santa Cruz area and, in September 2001,
had a TiiCo engine installed. Unfortunately, the A/C hoses were not
quite long enough to reach to the compressor in its new position, so I
had to make another trip to Sacramento (and spend another $500+) to get
this fixed in November 2001. At the end of the day, the A/C still wasn't
working properly, so the technician said to bring it back and not use it
in the meantime.
Not needing A/C during the winter, we returned in March and spent
another $250 to have the A/C wired up to the engine fan. On leaving the
A/C shop, I immediately noticed a very strong front-end vibration when I
tried to use the A/C but it was too late to do anything more as I had to
get back to Santa Cruz. At least the A/C seemed to be cooling properly.
(Subsequent inquiries to this list suggested that the A/C tech had wired
the fan to come on in the "high" position immediately --a fact I later
confirmed.)
I didn't have much occasion to use the A/C in the next couple of months
-- just turning it on from time to time to see if the vibration was as
bad as I had remembered it (it was!). Then, one day I turned it on and
the vibration stopped! There still seemed to be cold air coming out of
the A/C vents, so I thought (ha, ha) maybe the fan problem had fixed
itself.
In May, we were driving on a warm day and it was clear that the A/C was
NOT cooling properly. Air was blowing out of the vents in the rear of
the van, but it was not cold. So, last Friday, I returned to Sacramento
to once again try to get things fixed. On the way, I had the A/C fan
switched on to at least get some air circulation. I was just north of
Stockton when the dash warning lights came on. I stopped the van, opened
the engine compartment, and found smoke pouring out of the A/C
compressor.
The repair shop admits that they wired the engine cooling fan to start
in the "high" position whenever the A/C was switched on. (They defend
this as "good practice" in an area that gets as hot as Sacramento.) We
also now know that, when the vibration stopped, it was because a 30 amp
fuse protecting the fan had blown. The A/C tech says that he tested the
amperage draw last Friday and that the fan normally draws 24 amps -- but
when it is first turned on it "spikes" at 60 amps. I don't know for
sure, but I suspect that this is related to having the fan come on
immediately on "high," as this fuse never blew before during our 12
years of owning the van.
The manager is proposing to repair things "at cost" and thinks that I
should also replace the fan. (I checked w/ Camelback VW and a
replacement fan runs $550+.)   I think that the repair shop should
replace my compressor and anything else that burned out at no charge;
wire the fan to come on "low" (and then go to "high" if needed); and
forget about a new fan.
Your thoughts, comments, suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.
Ray Reinhard
'86 Tiico Westy Camper GL