Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2016 05:57:34 -0700
Reply-To: Toomey Douglas <drt@UOREGON.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Toomey Douglas <drt@UOREGON.EDU>
Subject: Re: AC conversion
In-Reply-To: <BAY405-EAS321FB3A27A6F459904E39C0A02C0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
John Rodgers and Dennis Haynes,
Thank you for your responses. Some background. I have an 87 Westy, owned since 89. This year I have had significant work done on car, including rebuilt engine installed (2.1), water pump, fuel pump, radiator, clutch. Also upgrade of suspension, bushings, ball joints, cv joints. Having had and enjoyed the car for so long, I’ve wanted to fix it up. And keep it for another several decades.
As to why the AC, I had not wanted to do a conversion at all, nor on the road. It has worked fine, but it has lost its charge of refrigerant. Normally we do not use the AC in Oregon, so the last time I had it recharged was about 7 years ago. It held that charge for awhile.
With all of the other repairs done in the past few months, I simply ran out of time for my kids summer vacation. I also (mistakenly?) thought I could get the original system recharged, but a week before leaving, the shop in Eugene that is recommended said they could not recharge the original system with R12.
So, with time run out, we are traveling to see grandparents and ruing my decision to use my beloved westy.
A couple of other questions. Sorry to not know answers.
Can I get the original system recharged? If so, with what? I presume it would need to be tested somehow before doing so. What type of test?
The alternative is to make the trip without AC and, if desired/recommended, convert when I return, which is indeed sensible advice.
Thanks again for your help. On the road toward Idaho Falls.
Doug
> On Jun 21, 2016, at 7:16 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> So during a trip away from home you decide you want to convert the AC over
> to a different refrigerant. Why. Is it not working at all? Do you think a
> different refrigerant alone will make it work that much better? What year
> Vanagon and is it a Westy? If the AC is not working at all the first step is
> going to be to get it repaired. This most likely is not a drive in and get
> it done in a few hour event. A big problem is that whoever you have do the
> repair while you are away will not be able to provide any warranty support
> after you leave. With any major service you will be best off waiting until
> you are home and can have someone do the work that is close enough to handle
> the comeback.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Doug Toomey
> Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 9:44 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: AC conversion
>
> Would like to convert my AC over to new refrigerant. On road toward
> Yellowstone and then eastward. Can anyone recommend a shop to do it in
> Idaho, Wyoming or to east?
>
> Thank you. Just one of those things that did not get done before leaving!
_______________________
Prof. Douglas Toomey
1272 Geological Sciences
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1272
http://uoregon.edu/~drt
http://geophysics.uoregon.edu
(541) 346 5576 (tel)
(541) 346 4692 (fax)
________________________
