Date:         Fri, 16 Aug 2002 01:19:57 EDT
Reply-To:     KimBrennan@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <KimBrennan@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Another AC story
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

The AC in the GoldBrick has been, well, less that spectacular. I knew it had
freon, I knew the evaporator was good. I figured it had to be electrical.
When I had a grounding problem to the transmission (thanks to the local VW
dealer) I blew a fair number of fuses. Including the ones to the rear fans.
So I asked the dealer to fix it.

They fixed the fans.

The fixed it by putting in 30amp fuses, instead of the original 25amp ones.
Snarl. The cooling efficiency (poor) was still the same. So I continued the
hunt WITHOUT the "assistance" of the dealer (I know it isn't a Vanagon issue
with dealers, because I hear the same horror stories from other more modern
VW owners.)

After investigating the relays, and wiring in the rear, I came to the
conclusion that my problem had to be...

The AC switch. That one in the front that turns it on. The Gold Brick is an
86 Syncro. So the AC in this beast has a 4 speed fan switch and a separate
rotary switch that turns the AC on and controls the tempature of the AC. The
fan turns on. So I knew THAT part worked.

I disassembled the switch. It consists of two portions the on off section
(known to work) was easy to identify. The other section is a Variable Ohm
Resistor rated originally at 20K. Mine had no connection.

I got my Westy back today from having it's CV boots replaced and pull the AC
switch (same type) on it. I measured the VOR on it. Yep, goes from 0 ohms, to
a bit over 19K ohms.

Needless to say, this is another of those parts that you can apparently only
get at the dealer. $14. Probably will get it next week. Hey, at least one of
my Vans can have working AC this weekend. I'll just move the switch from
vehicle to vehicle as needed.

In my investigations I checked all the fuses, including those 50amp "fuses"
(more like fusable links). What are those made of, lead? They sure seemed to
bend like lead. Very soft.