Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 13:31:17 -0400
Reply-To: Tim Hannink <tjhannink@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tim Hannink <tjhannink@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Removing A/C Unit?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
This is how to do it on 86-91 camper.
Get any existing freon evacuated by your local garage.
Disconnect the negative lead on the primary battery.
Remove the duct housing above the rear seat. (remember the four Phillips
screws that hold it in from the upper bunk)
Remove the two Phillips head screws on the front of the evaporator cover.
Remove the rearmost bolt holding the evaporator cover to the rear cabinet.
Remove the rear grill cover.
Remove the front bolt holding the evaporator cover to the rear cabinet.
Disconnect the drain hoses from the drip pan and pull them out of the holes
in the evaporator cover.
Support the bottom of the evaporator cover. (I use a large hydraulic jack
with a laundry basket on top of it )
Remove the two Phillips screws on the bottom of the evaporator cover.
Lower the cover 4-6".
Disconnect the wiring to the blower motors and the speakers. (remember to
fish the speaker wire out of the cover)
Unbolt the blower resistors from the evaporator cover.
Lower the evaporator cover and remove it from the van. (the cover weighs
about 20 lbs)
Remove the plastic air deflector from the front of the evaporator, it should
pull straight out.
Disconnect the A/C lines at the expansion valve. Use two wrenches, one to
turn the fitting and one to hold the expansion valve to keep it from
rotating.
Unscrew the four Phillips screws holding the evaporator to the ceiling. (it
weighs about 10 lbs.)
Remove the bolts and screws holding the rear cabinet to the floor and wall.
Remove rear cabinet or slide away from side wall.
Disconnect large red cable from fuse panel.
Remove fuse/relay panel and associated wiring. (you should be able to unplug
everything that won't come away with the panel)
Remove hose clamps holding A/C lines to body.
Disconnect the A/C lines at the compressor and at the receiver dryer (in the
left rear wheelwell) and remove them.
Remove power cable from the alternator lug and remove with wiring to
compressor.
Seal up the holes in the engine deck and re-install side cabinet and
evaporator cover if desired.
Then you can remove the receiver dryer, compressor and condenser and the
lines connecting them. You should be able to lower the radiator far enough
to remove the condenser without disconnecting the radiator hoses.
If you chose to leave those components in place, seal any openings in case
you change your mind or chose to sell them.
I'm not sure how removing the wiring will affect the operation of the
radiator fan, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem wiring around the
A/C relays. I've always re-installed everything and made the A/C operational
again.
The best tool to have when doing this is a fully charged cordless
screwdriver with a good #2 Phillips bit.
Good luck,
Tim Hannink
Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
Winter Park, Florida
http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
http://photos.yahoo.com/tjhannink Vanagon Album
----- Original Message -----
> On Thu, 1 Aug 2002, psavage wrote:
>
> > Volks,
> > I'm eyeing my A/C & thinking of yanking it out!
> > I never use it while home or traveling & might rather
> > put all that available space to better use.
> >
> > Has anyone done this?
> > I'd like to leave the cabinet/housing in place ultimately.
> > Please clue me in to removal process if you've learned
> > anything to pass along.
> > Thanks!
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