Date:         Sat, 1 Jul 2006 18:35:51 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: A/C shop in CA?
Comments: To: tornadored@GMAIL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 6/30/2006 11:36:36 PM Pacific Standard Time,
tornadored@GMAIL.COM writes:
>No, he will convince you NOT to convert to R134a!


Is the deal that one HAS TO convert to R134a to get the system charged? Shops
won't charge a system with Freon anymore? Is R134a better, faster, stronger.
Or is it an ozone issue? Because I just heard Bush say the ozone is fine, so
why can't I have my Freon? ;)

I wouldn't mind a good shop in LA for A/C. I had Salerno on Magnolia Blvd. in
Burbank, CA fix the A/c on my VW Fox. The clutch on the compressor was making
noise like a bad bearing whether the a/c was on or off. They replaced the
entire compressor for about $650 if I recall. And that son of a gun blew COLD as
ice for about three years. It was still blowing cold when the A/C clutch
started amking the same noise. It was "winter" so I just disconected the A/C belt
and haven't had a chance to have anyone look at it.

Nice enough guys. I mean I wish the clutch on the new compressor lasted more
than 3 years, but maybe that's par for the course with an aftermarket unit?
And like I said the A/c was still cold as all get out, but with the clutch
making all that noise I was afraid it would sieze so I disconnected the belt.

So my review of the shop is everything went fine. But I have to admit I'm a
lot less picky about who works on my Fox when compaired to my Vanagon. The A/C
on my bus hasn't worked in about 6 years.

Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA