Date:         Tue, 21 Jul 1998 17:03:28 EDT
Reply-To:     MrVital@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Gary Edwards <MrVital@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: a/c problems; vw mech in colorado?
Comments: To: ceezuu@HOTMAIL.COM, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Well, since you asked about A/C and I was going to report back to the list
about my recent experience with it anyway...you will be glad to know that just
because it blows hot, this is not the end of the world. My compressor kicked
on when I turned the thermostat and the fan blew just fine. Only problem
seemed to be the temp. I called my VW and they said R12 freon was going for
$59.00/pound. A complete fill for my van would run around $280. (ouch)
Firestone said their R12 was $50/lb. Wal-mart sells theirs for $25/lb! They
charge about $50 for an evacuation and inspection. My van had .5 lb in it that
he took out and then added to that another 2.25 lb. (Yes, they break it down
to the .25 lb and even have a flip book with the bar code for that amount.)
The mechanic was not hired last Wednesday. In fact, he recharged another one
of our cars last summer. He also used to drive a '72 bus and was more than
happy to work on mine. He says he looked at all the lines he could get to and
could see no leaks. We drove it and his thermometer read in the lower 30's!
All this cost me $109.00! I am sweating in Indy and am about to drive to
Montana. If I can get to where I'm going in comfort, it will be money well
spent. If anyone is passing thru Red Lodge, look me up. I'll be working for
the Outward Bound School and living across the street from P.D. McKinney's.
Happy motoring all! Gary Edwards