Date: Mon, 25 May 1998 16:33:51 EDT
Reply-To: SyncroHead <SyncroHead@AOL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: SyncroHead <SyncroHead@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Air conditioning
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
In a message dated 98-05-25 06:11:52 EDT, MWhit80095@AOL.COM writes:
> Has anyone had the misfortune to lower the air conditioning houseing from
> the back of a 87 vanagon. Anyone know how to put the A/C ducting back on
the
> roof ie reach the screws that hold the the ducting???that runs to the front.
I`am
> so glad I did this.......really I am......*#@*%~!**^&$
SOmetimes these ducts crack from weight & vibration.
This became such a problem that VW has issued a recall on the AC ducts to
install (you guessed it) brackets! See your VW dealer and tell them that you
want the recall done (at NO charge of course). I suspect that they might even
supply new ducts for you if yours are severely damaged.
I had removed & reinstalled my ducts several times (adding wiring for gadgets
of course) and realized the deficiency in the plastic & mounting methods VW
choose for the A/C. I strengthened the mounting points where the screws
penetrate the duct by adding fiberglass and then using a larger washer to
spread the load over a greater area.
If you need to replair this area on your ducts, you can get a small fiberglass
kit at most auto parts stores that comes complete with the fiberglass matt,
resin, catalyst, and instructions. If you do this, also pick up some acetone
to clean up with.
After beefing up my ducts (before they broke) VW announced it's recall of
these ducts, acknowledging that an A/C duct falling on a driver could pose a
bit of a safety concern. Their fix is to install brackets inside the duct
where the duct mounts to the ceiling. These brackets basically act as VERY
large washers distributing the weight of the ducts over about a 16 square inch
area compared to the original washer area of about 1.5 square inches. Despite
the fact that I had beefed mine up, I had VW do this recall in both of my vans
for no charge.
The removal sequence to the ducts is to remove the side-to-side duct above the
front windshield first. Removing this includes removing both the sun visors,
since one of each pair of these screws also helps hold the duct up. Then work
your way toward the back removing each piece in sequence. The base of the
duct is never removed from the remainder of the duct, it's really a one piece
factory assembly.
When reassembling, the installation sequence is just the reverse. The back of
the rear front-to-back duct is held up by the evaporator housing and you
install the pair of screws in the front of that duct section (where you haave
access to them). Next you install the second section of front-to-back duct.
The rear of this section is held up by the previous section and you install
the two screws in the front of it where you have access. Don't press each
section frimly against the previous section, leave a small gap (it'll be
covered by the rubber strip) or you whole assemble will be too short to reach
the front properly. You work forward untill installing the section over the
windshield, this last piece is a 2 person job, someone holding while the other
installs the screws.
There. It's as simple as that! Glad I could help.
Good luck,
Jim Davis
87 GL Syncro
88 GL Wolfsburg
