Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 22:15:04 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Also AC not working
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You should be aware that if the charge on the AC system is low ......
there's a pressure switch ( usually ) that will keep the compressor clutch
from engaging if the system charge is low.
In cars in general........
I'd say the most common reason for the AC not even 'trying' ( i.e. AC
compressor clutch won't even engage ) is low charge of R12 or R 134a.
and as the other poster says .......things get fried back there from age and
heat in the wires. Be really nice if it's just a fuse or some contacts.
on the shaky steering wheel.......
first think, jack up the front and check for out of round tires or flat
spots.
while they're in the air wiggle hard, up/down and left/right on the wheel
and tire.......
looking for worn out tie rod ends........and worn upper ball joints, and
whatever you can find that's loose.
Lower ball joints wear out too, but fortuanately not for a long time.
.........and they're harder to check, and difficult to replace.
balance of the front tires also comes to mind of course.............and
sometimes even the wheels are not prefecty round anymore .........though
that's unlikely if you have alloy wheels. But 'usually'.........significant
steering wheel shimmy is a combination of ......
worn front shocks, worn front suspension parts, or something wrong with the
wheels/tires.
In some cases...........it can be the front brakes also .....but you didn't
say 'while braking' , so figuring it's probably not that .
one 'cheap' test is just swap wheels front to rear, and see if that has some
affect.
be sure to check the tires for tread separation .......that's like an
internal henia .........and makes for a badly out of round tire. There will
be a bulge in the tread area.
you might have perfect shocks......
I'm not speaking to you here , but I have observed that some people think
the only consequence of having very worn shocks is soft mushy uncontroleld
ride and handling. That's not the only downside........worn shocks
contribute significantly to trashing the suspension, and the tires too.
You can also get a free front end inspection at most tire and brake shops.
they're glad to check it out for you .............cause they might write an
estimate for up to a thousand bucks.......if things are pretty tired,
but you can get a 'hopefully objective' free inspection that way. They tend
to say 'if one side is shot, you need both sides done, of course' . and so
on.
good luck !
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Morse" <Andysings@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, July 04, 2009 9:01 PM
Subject: Also AC not working
> When I first got my syncro about 5 years ago (lent from a friend) the ac
> worked, excellent. Then her brother had it and upon it's return to me a
> few
> years later I bought it for cheap.
>
> The ac doesn't work anymore. Nothing happens when the switch is turned, no
> sound no nothing as if a fuse was blown. However the fuse is fine, I even
> replaced the 20 amper to make sure. What gives? A bad switch? Seems I
> should
> here something when the switch is turned! What should I look for? Thank
> you.
>
> The list grows...
> Fix heater motor
> weak brakes
> no ac
> fast idle sometimes
> shaky steering wheel (ball joint?)
>
> Andy
> **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2
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