Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 00:52:53 -0500
Reply-To: Budd Premack <bpremack@WAVETECH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Budd Premack <bpremack@WAVETECH.NET>
Subject: Re: Does the A/C Recirculate? (Q 2 of 2)
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Marshall Ruskin wrote, " There are no control levers that affect the a/c
operation, right?"
That is technically true as far as the dash vent levers are concerned. The
a/c controls are slightly different for the 83 1/2 - 85 years than for 1986
and later, but in both cases they have a fan switch/knob and a thermostadt
switch/knob, all mounted (for non-Westys) in the front roof-level a/c
ducting. I think the earlier years had a separate on/off toggle switch,
while the later years incorporated that function into the thermostadt
switch/knob.
Please do not forget to close all fresh air vents, including the side dash
ones and the sliding covers in the front doors. If there is a leak of fresh
air (or even worse, heated air) into the heater box because of misadjusted
heater control cables and/or heater box flaps that have worn edge seals
(very common), then you are constantly trying to cool and dehumidify fresh
air (i.e., hot and humid), which will substantially impact the efficiency of
the a/c system. Since the a/c recirculates the air inside the van, it
becomes much more efficient once you begin to cool and dehumidify the van's
atmosphere.
As far as the lack of cooling, this is most likely due to a leak of
refrigerant (freon or R134a). A competent a/c specialist can check out
where your system has a leak(s). From past experience, I can say that
multiple leaks are to be expected. These must be remedied prior to filling
with refrigerant, or else it will also leak out.
Because freon is now so expensive (at least in the U.S.), it is now
economical to shift over to R134a. I had this done to my 86 Syncro last
year and am very pleased with the cooling capacity. (It was subjected to 95
F and 80 F dewpoint at Buses by the Arch last year and kept me properly
refreshed.)
If you are lucky and only have a small leak of freon, then it is cost
effective to just keep that system and replenish the freon. But if you need
more than 2 or 3 pounds of freon, it gets pricey at about $50+ per pound.
If you do shift to R134a, you will need a new receiver dryer and some other
small
items. The other main components are fully compatable with either
refrigerant. It seems to me that the Bus Depot (or was it some other List
vendor?) has asssembled a kit to assist in the conversion.
Good luck and stay cool.
Budd Premack
86 Syncro, 84 GL(for sale soon), 73 Super
Minneapolis, MN (Land of Sky Blue Waters)
