Date:         Wed, 2 May 2007 14:16:40 -0700
Reply-To:     roger sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         roger sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Vanagon A/C compressor
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Last week,a listee posted about a $2500 A/C repair estimate. His second in two or three years.

  I was thinking about this last night and I was wondering about the two bad compressors he had  in  just a few years.What could cause this?  Lots of use? Dont think so.Must be a reason. Here is what I think happened.

  HIs Vanagon, a 91 or 90, has a SD709 compressor. Many, many vehicles use this same compressor. Includes other Vw cars and the Jeep Cherokee to name two. It is considered an excellent compressor by everyone. Each applicattion calls for its own oil fill level.The Vanagon requires 8 ounces, and 1 ounce in the rear valve area.I have seen applications that call for only 5 ounces in the SD709. I think the reasons for the different oil levels between different cars, is the mounting angle and system loads/capacity.

  What I think happened is that he got a generic oil charge from the distributor that sold it to the installer.One oil level fits all. I think he got a charge of only 5 ounces of oil,when he should have had 8 ounces.Mount this compressor at an angle and the oil level gets low.This low  initial oil leverl is bad for both a new or rebuilt compressor.

  Else he got a rebuilt compressor that was not too good to begin with-Twice. By definition,here is what is included in a rebuilt compressor.1) new pulley /clutch, 2) new shaft seal, 3) new rear valve plate, 4) new oil charge, 5) new paint. That is it.

  The insides of the compressors body are not touched at all. Im talking about lots and lots of tiny bearings,pistons,and piston rings,connecting rods,ect. Oodles of them. If the oil charge ever got low in its previous life, the rebuilt  unit is very soon to be toast.Add  a  new genericly low oil charge to this and you can get a very short service life.

  Even though the compressor is saved from destructing by a low pressure cut off switch,in the 90 Vanagon, owners dont usually  add new oil when recharging.After several recharges( without adding new oil),the oil level gets too low.

   Without a low pressure cut off switch (like the early Vangons have) the compressor will continue to run with little refrigerant. This low  freon level tends to draw the oil out of the compressor,never to return.The typical 83.5 to 85 Vanagon compressor  that has not worked for years has about 20 drops of oil in it.The owner just keep using it till the freon got so low it blew warm air.VW got around this loack of alow pressure swithc by adding a line intheowners manual.It said to have the A/C system checked at the beginning of  each cooling season. Who does that?

  It just goes to show that the Vanagon is a unique vehicle and needs a shop that repairs them regularly.One that knows this uniqueness and likes Vanagons.That A/C shop that installed two compressors in two or three years must have a theory as to why they fiailed.I wonder what it is? Better to just get rid of this guy?

  PLUG ---  Bus depot compressors are oiled up at the distributor to fit the Vanagon requirements specifically.I cant say this about any other compressor or seller.I have talked to the distributoer that sells A/C stuff to BD.He has a passion for the A/C business as no one else does.Tons of experience. He just dosent shuffle boxes of compressors along.He can mix and match up anything for any particular application,and does He stands behind what he does,too..So,I say for Vanagon owners ,get your A/C stuff from BD only.Your gonna get stuff that fits the Vanagon.









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