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Date:         Fri, 08 Aug 1997 11:25:18 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Karen Winter <cen13504@centuryinter.net>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon airconditioning hoses

John Hung,

I feel you pain!

After spending over $300 to retrofit and upgrade to r-132a, the shop told me that a AC hoses were just old and need to be replace. The hose blew out twice in a week. Not having the time or money to fix it right now I waited. I really cost me. The hole in the line allowed the AC oil to leak out and seize the compressor. I am guessing that trip cost me over $400 in AC parts and it didn't even work. I was in the habit of turning the compressor on the kick the cooling on while driving hard.

I HIGHLY suggest removing the AC belt to prevent frying the compressor. If you have a closed AC system with the oil intact you should be ok.

The Young lady I took on the trip was not amused at being broken down on the side of the road. It took me a while to figure out the problem. At first I thought the water pump went out, because the motor would not turn over. Ater I figured out the motor was ok, I was relieved and went on with the trip.

Knock on wood, I have never been stranded in a VW. I have always managed to get home safely.

Kenneth Winter > Just a tip (OK a story) to share about vanagon A/C hoses. > > A few years ago I had problems keeping A/C refrigerant in my 84 Vanagon. > Checked all the connections over and over, and found no problem. Borrowed > an electronic leak detector, and found nothing around the connections. > Laying under the van, I started to study the long rubber hoses that stretch > from engine to condensor (way up front). Hoses were kind of oily (slick). > Lo and behold, the electronic leak detector beeps along the entire length > of the hoses! Apparently the hoses had deteriorated with age, and R12 was > just oozing through the hoses, taking trace amounts of oil with it. > > Dealer wanted space shuttle prices for hoses (they're really long). None > of the FLAPS could order them either - the compressor connections used on > the vanagon are rare. My solution: Found a place that carries A/C hose in > bulk (made by Goodyear). I bought about 30 feet, and got some special > clamps. The clamps look like regular hose clamps, but they're a bit > sturdier and have a small metal hook tack-welded to the band. The hook is > used to make sure the clamps are installed at exactly the right position on > the hose end. I went home and cut off the OEM crimp clamps (they cut off > very easily with a hacksaw, but be careful not to damage the metal > connector pipe underneath the hose.) > > The Goodyear hose has thicker walls than OEM hoses, but the inside > diameters are a teeny bit smaller. I had to work hard pushing the old > metal connectors into the new hose. But once I finished, I was really > pleased. Kept A/C in the car for about two years... > > I've lost the charge again, but this is due to the compressor connectors > coming loose. I haven't figured out a way to keep those connections tight. > Over time, engine vibration and motion seems to loose the connections. > Then the O-rings get beat up, and the gas escapes. With today's R12 > prices, I'll probably just go without. So I've got nice hoses with no > freon ... sigh. > > John Hung > 84 GL > jhung@eng.auburn.edu > www.eng.auburn.edu/~jhung


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