Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2016 08:12:53 -0400
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Air conditioning
In-Reply-To: <15BE7FE4-5685-4D19-9953-64DABFD68E2E@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
You should get a second and third opinion about that evaporator
replacement. There are many other and more likely causes for poor AC
performance, low refrigerant charge being the most likely.
With a recirculating system, if the air it's taking in is very hot, the air
coming out is not going to be very cold at first. I generally feel that my
AC is working pretty well if it reduces the temp by 30F or so. This means
that if the van has been standing in the sun and the air in back is 110F,
the air coming out of the AC might be 80F at first. After a few minutes of
circulation, it starts to feel more like actual AC.
Do you know if the system still has R-12 in it or if it has been converted
to 134a or something else? Did this tech actually measure the low and high
side pressures with the system running? It's complicated. :-)
I think the saying goes something like: "VW, converting owners to mechanics
for over 50 years."
Larry A.
On Sat, Jul 2, 2016 at 3:02 AM, Gordon Mah <gordonmahung@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thank you Larry, Dennis and Stan,
>
> I'll look for those "Bently" manuals even though I don't have a Bently.
> ;). I know it has freon because the tech I took it to told me that he
> checked it. Problem was that I was expecting air to come out the front and
> side vents too. Yes, they did come out the rear as you guys said, although
> not all that cold. Somebody told me that the "evaporator" probably needs
> replacing. We'll see. I'm realizing that Westy owners all seem to be
> mechanical tinkerers. Does any air ever come out from the side vents above
> the sliding door?
>
> Thanks again.
> -g
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Jun 29, 2016, at 5:05 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >
> > So the seller didn't show you how things work. Do you have the owner's
> > manual? You may want to get one. As a Westy or vanagon newbie you will
> want
> > to get a Bentley service manual ASAP. Learn as much as possible before
> tings
> > break and get ready to catch up on some overdue maintenance. If the van
> is
> > low mileage it is a good bet it spent part of its life not running. As
> old
> > dormant systems and rubber/plastic parts are put to use you will be
> > surprised as the things that will need service within a year.
> >
> > Freon is a brand name for refrigerants. How do you know the system has an
> > adequate charge of refrigerant if you don't know how to turn it on? Does
> it
> > even have AC? For an 87 Westy the AC controls are usually to the right of
> > the radio. There is no AC from the dash vents, only the vents over the
> rear
> > seat. It is common for these air conditioners to have both electrical and
> > refrigeration/leakage problems. The electrical is somewhat complicated
> > especially with the interface to the radiator fan. Alldatadiy.com is a
> good
> > choice to get service information including the wiring diagrams. On the
> > Westy most of the AC electrical is inside the rear cabinet. You have to
> > remove a shelf and that corner piece for the electrics ad high side
> service
> > fitting.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > Gordon Mah
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2016 3:08 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Air conditioning
> >
> > Just bought me a 1989 Westy and I can't figure out how to get the air
> > conditioning to work. It has freon. I tried all the knobs and vent
> sliders
> > and all I get is either heat or just air from the outside. Does anyone
> know
> > the secret combination of sliders and their positions to make this baby
> keep
> > me cool on such hot days?
> >
> > Thanks!
>
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