Date:         Wed, 7 Apr 1999 19:26:12 -0400
Reply-To:     Gordon and/or Cecilia Bonham <bon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gordon and/or Cecilia Bonham <bon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Air Conditioning Electrical Problem
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I have a '90 Westfalia with a/c problems.  When I bought the vehicle
last month, the a/c had been inoperative for a couple of years.
The local, non VW garage here in Green Cove Springs, Fl, repaired a
leak, changed the receiver/dryer and the expansion valve and recharged
the system.  At that time, according to the mechanic, the system was
working fine.  He left the a/c on for a few minutes and then noticed
that the compressor was not running.  Investigation showed that fuse S0,
50 amps, had blown and had melted the insulating support material on the
right hand side.  He replaced the fuse with a 50 amp circuit breaker and
now the system seems to work ok for a few minutes and then trips the
breaker. If I'm in motion the circuit breaker will not trip as soon but
it still trips on anything but the very lowest settings.
In the mechanics opinion I have a defective radiator fan.  I checked the
High Wattage/Low Ohmage resistor behind the left head lamp and it seems
to be ok although it show signs of having been very hot.  Hairline
cracks in the ceramic. I believe the resistance is labeled as .09 ohms
and .28 ohms but I am not sure.
I am willing to buy a new/used fan if I can be sure that is the problem
but I hate to guess with an item that expensive.  The fan sounds ok (I
think) and starts and stops in sequence with the compressor.
I have an appointment in five days for the local VW shop but if in the
meantime I could get some suggestions, I would appreciate it.
Thanks for all the help in the past few weeks.
Gordon Bonham
Now--'90 Westfalia
Then--'82 Diesel Westfalia
Before Then--'73 Westfalia