Date:         Sun, 2 Jul 2006 10:00:11 -0700
Reply-To:     Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: A/C shop in CA?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

If you are at all mechanicly inclined, you may want to give it a try.
Seems intimidating at first if you have not done any AC work before,
but it really is not that hard to fix and a hell of a lot less
expensive if you do the work. After spending well over $1000 fixing the
AC on my 84, I was ready to give it a try on my 90. Cost me about $100
this time.

First off, if you convert to 134a, know that it will not cool as well
and makes the compressor work harder (I've heard).
Second, if you stick with R12, you will be spending a ton of $$ on a
refrigerant that will eventually leak out into the atmosphere and help
destroy the ozone layer. Please take note, Jon, and all who think using
R12 is OK. It is not. Please consider using anything but R12.

Here's what I did:

Order the parts: 134 retrofit kit, drier receiver (from VanCafe.com)
and Maxifrig (800  256-6033) or Duracool <http://www.duracool.com/>

Tools: A basic AC filler/gauge recharge set with 134a fittings and the
usual wrenches, sockets, and hex wrenches, etc.

Anyway, what I did was have the R12 removed by an AC shop so that it
could be recycled. They should compensate you if they pull any R12 out,
although I forgot to ask because at that time I was going to have them
fix the AC. Next, I took out the compressor to drain the oil out and
then disconnected the drier/receiver and the 2 lines that attach to the
condenser up by the radiator. I then used compressed air to blow out
the lines with the receiving end covered with a rag or a small
container to collect the oil. Installed new O rings on all the fittings
and installed the receiver/drier. New filler valves went into the high
pressure port and the low pressure port as well as the 134a retrofit
disconnect fittings. The compressor was put back in and the belt
tensioned before filling it with the proper amount of oil. Then, with
engine running at about 1800rpm and AC switches on all the way, I
charged up the system to get a low-side reading (about 25-35psi)
recommended by Maxifrig. That is it in a nut shell.

Pmail me if you you have any questions

Keith O.
90 Westy Syncro

On Jul 1, 2006, at 5:06 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Sharon Mendonca wrote:
>> Can anybody suggest a reliable A/C shop for conversion to R134a in
>> California?  We got a quote from a local a/c shop for $900, who
>> probably has never worked on a van (whom we didn't trust) and then we
>> went to another local VW shop.  Quote was $420 to begin with and
>> ended up at $1,600 - we decided we didn't want A/C THAT bad.  We
>> would still like to convert sometime, but not for that price.  We're
>> located on the central CA coast, but can travel wherever.  Any good
>> suggestions?
>>
>>   Bob & Sharon Mendonca
>>   88 Westy
>>   88 Vanagon GL