Date:         Wed, 18 Sep 2002 21:46:56 EDT
Reply-To:     KimBrennan@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <KimBrennan@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Advice on putting up the A/C that came crashing down on my
              head.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

In a message dated 9/18/02 5:03:05 PM, salmonbus@YAHOO.COM writes:


> I never Thought it would happen to me, but as the
> title says my A/C came crashing down on me recently. I
> have seen threads on this in the past but can't seem
> to word it right to get any help in the archives. The
> center three sections fell without taking the front or
> rear with them. The rear housing has broken off at the
> four bolts on each side although it is still held up
> (by the internal screws i guess?). I thought I could
> use some large washers to distribute the weight around
> the chipped off pieces on the center sections but how
> do you tighten it with no access? Also I have heard of
> a part that VW gave as a recall replacement for this
> whole mess. I would call the VW dealer but they would
> probably laugh as they usually do When you ask them
> for any vanagon help;-}
>   Any help greatly appreciated.
> 
As previously stated, if you can get the dealer to do it as part of the 
recall, that' probably your best bet. But now for some additional info.

First off, the rear section does not have any internal bolts/screws. What is 
holding it up at this point are the rear corner pieces (the plastic covering 
the D pillars). This is not a long term thing. 

Next, if you go the route of replacing things yourself...The replacement rear 
section is different in that the tabs where the bolts go isn't there anymore 
(and the bolts themselves were moved upward.) At my dealer they fabricated a 
piece of metal to the original bolt holes that will support the new piece.

In order to remount the middle sections, the front section has to come down. 
Note that the middle sections are only held up by bolts at one end (the other 
end nests into the next rearward section.) The front section is held up by 4 
screws, plus the sun visors. The passenger sun visor has a cable for the 
lighted mirror. There is a disconnect for this wiring, you'll just have to 
work the connector out of the hole in the A pillar.