Date:         Sat, 24 Jun 2006 16:57:19 -0500
Reply-To:     wlail@OU.EDU
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Warren Lail <wlail@OU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: air conditioning
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I have air condtioning!  We vacuumed down the system for about an hour, gave it 30 minutes to see if we had a vacuum leak (didn't), added Ester oil and a small bottle of oil with dye, charged the system with 51oz of R134a and bingo!  


When the compressor comes on even the idle jumps up (I was hoping it would do that).   Temp at the vent never got below 60 while sitting in the shop, but when I took it out on the freeway it dropped almost to 50.  According to my friend who did the work (for no labor charge), that ain't the best but considering the age of the system and the fact that we did not change the expansion valve that was pretty good.  Believe me, it feels great and I am very happy!

It cost me $82 for the custom hoses, barbs, and clamps, and $37 for the R134a, the Ester oil, and the dye, and $18 for a case of Coors Light (that's all Spike would take for his time).  I've ordered a new receiver/dryer (the one I bought wouldn't work) so when it gets here we will remove the refrigerant, install the new receiver/dryer and recharge it again.  However if it keeps cooling as well as it is now, I doubt that I will impose upon my friend to do all of this again.   


My long range plans are to replace the condensor, all of the hoses, and install a new expansion valve, so I may wait and install the receiver/dryer at that time.

One question:  Where does water from the evaporator go?  I don't seem to see any under the bus anywhere, but I'll keep looking.

Thanks to all of you who provided input and guidance.

Warren L.
88 Westy 2.2 "Billy Bones"

----- Original Message -----
From: roger sisler <rogersisler2000@yahoo.com>
Date: Saturday, June 24, 2006 9:31 am
Subject: Re: air conditioning

> I think most go with ester. I also think it is compatable with r12 

> and 134a, where Pag is not. If you go to ebay,type in freon, you 

> can get r12 , 4 or 5 cans for about$75. To buy it, you need to sign 

> a paper that says the purchace is for resale. Ebay provides the 

> form. It may be worth waiting till next week  ,and get some r12. 

> Your system is designed of r12. 134a willwork, but not as well most 

> times. Make sure you get a new expansion valve.wlail@ou.edu wrote:  

> Hi Roger,
> 

> I installed the hoses today. The splices are aluminum and fairly 

> robustly barbed. I don't think one could be pulled back out once it 

> is put in. I used AC hose clamps and a 1/4 inch drive rachet to 

> tighten them well.
> 

> I connected my wiring and the radiator fan and blower turn on when 

> I switch on the unit. I will be vacuuming down the system and 

> charging it tomorrow at a Toyota dealership (where a friend works) 

> and I think he said we would be putting PAG oil and R143a in the 

> system. Let's all keep our fingers crossed!
> 

> Thanks for the information!
> 

> Warren L.
> 88 Westy 2.2 "Billy Bones"
> 

> >>>Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:31:26 -0400
> From: Roger Sisler 

> Subject: Re: air conditioning
> 

> If you are going to splice those hoses, use a metal connector that is
> barbed. Once, I inserted a long threaded bolt in the end of a a/c 

> hose.Dont remember why,but I added freon,and did a leak check with 

> an electronic
> tester.. The freon acutally leaked out the end of the hose with the 

> longset of threads. Maybe 1.5 inches of threads,screwed in,and 

> clamped super
> tight.A non threaded bolt shank that was clamped, did notleak. This 

> is why
> I say use a barbed fitting.I think that the barbed fitting is all 

> that is
> abvaliable, anyway. The early vanagons used this where the large nuts
> attach to the rear of the compressor. The other end of that piece 

> of metal
> is barbed.
> 

> A/c hoses are super cheap.Sometimes 2 or 3 hundred for the complete 

> 55 ft.I
> think you can go to a place that makes up hydraulic hoses.I would 

> make them
> all a couple of inches longer that the origionals. If you have the 

> moneyand a nice vanagon, go ahead and get the new hoses.
> 

> Used a/c hoses that once had r12 in them, act as barrier hoses. The 

> oilthat is left inside , blocks most of the 134a from excaping. 

> Still, they
> are old and 134a uses pressures that are about 20 percent higher 

> ,than for
> r12.Only occasionally have I heard of one blowing.
> 

> Personally, I would reuse the hoses, and make the splice.I think 

> Maggie Dew
> did the exact same thing as you , in her subie vanagon.Look up her
> experiences in the archives.<<<
> 

> 

> 

>             

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