Dear Hillman, I think you misunderstand the purpose of this video. It is a simple video to show folks who want to charge their own AC system how to do it. It isn't a be all and end all video about how to troubleshoot Air Conditioning systems on the Vanagon. Since you have knowledge that you would like to share, please make that video and put it up on RU-vid. That way we can all benefit. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Actually on an 85 there are no pressure switches in the system. Also all of the electrical items for the AC system are in the front attached to the fuse panel. If you look at the fuse panel you will see some blade style fuses to the right of the normal fuse panel. Those are for the AC system which was added on here in the USA after the vans were shipped over from Germany. Hope this helps you out.
I had the cover off of the high side because at first the AC wouldn't work so I was troubleshooting. The problem turned out to be a bad fuse up front but I figured since I had the cover off why not show it. You don't have to access the high side port to do a recharge.
+Kenneth Wilford Thanks, Ken. Very helpful video as always. Has been a "problem" with my Westy too, nice to hear that it is what it is and its and there is no reason to freak out when it is low on coolant.
Thanks for the video! Just what I was looking for trying to manage my 86’ Westy. Any tips on recharging from scratch and pulling a vacuum? Also, any idea what the white & green wire does (or goes to) on the harness to the compressor?
The white and green wire is plugged into the fuel injection harness. It tells the system when the AC compressor is turned on and the FI will idle up the engine enough so that it won't stall at idle.
Hi Ken, thanks for your valuable information, Kindly I want to ask you ,how much oil should I put in the compressor, and what kind, and if its good to add the UV leak finder. Because I had to remove the compressor, and all the oil came out
I appreciate your video, clear and easy. I need to seal the water drain tray and hoses. How do I access this area, just removing the wooden shelf? I am afraid that if I take the screws out, the whole evaporative components are just going to fall down. Am I mistaken? I have not been able to find any videos about this. Thanks. I have a 1988 westfalia.
You are going to need to drop the entire overhead unit to address this issue. Are you sure your drains are clear? Much more likely source of water leak is blocked drain.
It was just to show the location of the high side port. You can hook to it to see pressure on the high side but it isn't needed to fill. You fill through the low side which is near the compressor.
Great video, just as my AC wasn't getting cold again. Is there a reason you removed the cabinet interior and show the high end connector? Or is it just for informational purposes and not needed to recharge the AC system. Thanks and keep the good vids rolling
You say that you'd recommend changing ("especially") the high side fitting because it's got "a weird size fitting on it." Do you mean to replace that entire piece of tubing with the fitting on it, or did you use an adapter? Do you have any idea what the weird size is? My understanding is that most Vanagons were 7/16" until Vans made after 8/88, when they switched to 3/8", but some people inexplicably have 3/16". Very confusing.
No, you can get a R134a adapter kit that has high side and low side quick disconnect fittings. You want to install those fittings over the original screw fittings to eliminate the strange sizes. The kits come with multiple versions of the high side and low side fittings to deal with this issue. Once you have adapted them, you can use a standard R134a guage set to service the system from that point forward.
Hi! Van-again! What should the psi be? I did put one can. It made the air a little cooler but not cold enough. Just wondering how many cans should I use?
Hi Ken, I have an 86 Weekender and I have the Bentley. Not much info on my year as it was a split year. Mine came with the Aux from the Factory. Anywho, we are installing to the AC. We have the Evaporator, Compressor, Receiver/ Drier. The Compressor was removed before we bought it. But all lines are in. We connected the Blower from the Rear and it turns on strong. Kindly requesting advice on the lines we need in the engine. I can send you pictures. Let me know. Thank you.
Thank you for the video. I have a VW Vanagon, 1987, and every year the AC needs to be recharged. I have been to VW service a few times about this and they always tell me what you said here --- it's much easier (and cheaper) just to fill it each springtime than to search for a leak in this system, due to the fact that the AC apparatus is pretty much hidden behind panels in the vehicle. When they fill it --- is does in fact work for the summer --- but by the next year it's out of charge. One question: So to do it yourself, the motor should be running that the AC should be on? Thanks.
Yes. Vanagon AC systems leak no matter what. So a charge lasting a summer is fine. They don't run in the winter like all other cars, and this causes the o-rings to shrink.
If your system has not been updated to use newer refrigerants (R134a vs the OEM R12), this is a bit more involved. I was looking into my '87's no-op A/C and that is pretty much a show stopper.
+paul beard If your system is low on refrigerant and just sitting there, why not buy the R134a adapter kit from Napa and charge it and see what happens? Worst case you find some problems and know what needs to be replaced and it didn't really cost you that much. Best case your AC will work again for the rest of the summer and it didn't cost you a lot of money. Kind of a winning situation either way. If you don't try to charge the system it is a guaranteed loss.
