Date:         Thu, 3 Oct 2013 06:03:14 -0700
Reply-To:     Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon AC
In-Reply-To:  <1380803805.42657.YahooMailNeo@web164606.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

This is the one I remembered.  Pretty good writeup.
 
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=365626&highlight=barrier+hose
 
Stephen
 

________________________________
 From: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
Sent: Thursday, October 3, 2013 8:36 AM
Subject: Re: Vanagon AC
  

Yeah, I knew about the downside to R134a.  They also say it does not cool as well as other refrigerants, but that was part of my "nothing to lose" rationale.
 
The hose process is pretty well documented in a couple of Samba threads.  One guy did his whole '87 Westy system (wish it had been mine) by removing all hoses and having new barrier hose with the old connections made up, then reinstalled.  Inspirational, and I think the hose work cost was about $300, plus whatever else he did.  Sure beats the two grand estimates for repair reported by me and some others.
 
Stephen


________________________________

From: JRodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com>
To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM> 
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2013 11:31 PM
Subject: Re: Vanagon AC
  

As I understand it, if you convert to R134a refrigerant the system will 
leak because the 134a molecules are smaller and find their way through 
the hoses.It's a slow process and if all the connections are up to date 
with the right kind of seals - an annual refill is about all you will 
need. The only way around that problem is to replaces the hoses - which 
is rather pricey.

John


On 10/2/2013 8:41 AM, Stephen Grisanti wrote:
> Here in Virginia the A/C is essential.  My '87 Westy had a complete system but it blew hot.  The pile of receipts from the two POs showed a lot of money spent on service and repair.  I figured I had nothing to lose by playing with it so tried one of the cheapo R134a conversion kits from an auto parts store. That worked to cool things down.  I suspect a leak somewhere since I must recharge annually, but that is very little trouble for the real benefit it provides.
>
> My new-to-me '91 Westy, on the other hand, is missing the belt and the PO (the original owner) told me it never worked reliably, so I do not know what I will discover when I begin tinkering with that system but I think that work can wait for spring with other jobs having priority.  Good luck!
>
> Stephen
>
>
> ________________________________
>   From: Alain Thibault <alainthibault@TELUS.NET>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2013 12:20 AM
> Subject: Vanagon AC
>
>
> Allo
> My 86 comes with AC but the belt is not there... I presume since AC is not a necessity here in Vancouver BC that it was left unrepaired. Any idea if the AC in a Vanagon is something prone to break and not worth the expenses? What is the reputation of the AC system in the 1986-1991vanagons?
> Alain
> Westy 1986
>
> Sent from my iPad 2
>

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