Date:         Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:23:36 -0400
Reply-To:     Gregg Carlen <gregg.carlen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gregg Carlen <gregg.carlen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: I Have Some A/C Questions, Too
In-Reply-To:  <CAK-ud2iFEKjntXGOXS_mvxxv3ND_xjpRNXVVUDY0Y2EU5AMvtw@mail.gmail.com>
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Sorry for the delay in posting this back to the list. Since I had several
folks ask off list the same question, I thought I'd reply to everyone since
it seems to be a very relevant question. The question is 'what did it cost'
to have my AC hoses rebuilt?

Since I had a lot of work done to my AC and the PO had modified things
(including leaving the system open), I knew the price would be high. I knew
this before I bought the van last year, so I was prepared and had budgeted
for it. I'm doing this from memory as I don't have my reciepts handy, but
the total I paid (are you sitting down) was about $2,400. This includes,
parts and labor. A lot of parts!

Here's the rough break down:

Parts:
AC Compressor
Condensor
Dryer
R-134a conversion kit
R-134a
AC Hose material and end-fittings (except the one that goes to the
high-side fo the AC compressor) - my AC guy used Ken Wilford's trick to
re-use the original fitting.

Labor:
R/R all of the above
Evac, add oil/R134a and test/check for leaks (3 times - failed due to bad
original AC compressor and again for a burst AC hose)
Troubleshooting electrical controls (PO did a hack on several electrical
things on the van, still not 100% right, probably never will be)


So, all that said, my guess would be if I removed the AC hoses and took
them to the AC shop, he had estimed he would have charged about $200-$300
(parts & labor) to fabricate new ones. Because I had him do the R/R of the
hoses, that added to the labor cost. Taking them out and putting them in is
a complete PITA. Not completely insurmountable, just given my limited time
to work on the van, a PITA for me.


Gregg
90 Westy (Blueberry)
On Tue, Jun 12, 2012 at 4:52 PM, Gregg Carlen <gregg.carlen@gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi Jeff,
>
> I put my AC back together on my 90 Westy last summer ...
>
> It was a costly since I outsourced a lot of the work to them...
>