Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
air condition relay problems
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
douglas225
Samba Member


Joined: February 06, 2011
Posts: 56
Location: St. Augustine, FL
douglas225 is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:16 am    Post subject: air condition relay problems Reply with quote

earlier this year, i had my ac worked on and it was working quite well. however, during the summer time i put my van away - the opposite of you guys up north...down here in FL it is too hot. anyways, when i started using it again last week, i noticed two things:

1) the freon had leaked out....that was not really a surprise, but it was disappointing nonetheless
2) and i have now lost fan speed relays 1, 2, and 3... the highest speed (4) is the only one that works.

could this have something to do with my compressor going bad. when ever it is running it makes a loud sound...the mechanic said it was on its way out. any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.
_________________
1989 Vanagon Westfalia (all original)
Manual Transmission
Air Condition
currently around 95k miles
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
MarkWard
Samba Member


Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17014
Location: Retired South Florida
MarkWard is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Douglas, it is unlikey the two problems are related, so it is best to treat them as seperate problems. AC on a 20 plus year old vehicle is a financial commitment. If the system is all original with original hoses there could be multiple small leaks. If the compressor is failing, it is probably sending peices throughout the system, so if you replace the compressor, you are looking at replacing the drier, and possibly the condensor and expansion valve. At the same time a complete system flush. Without the tools, to do the above, you will need to find a competent shop to do the repairs, but it won't be cheap. Sorry.

Excluding the fan switch, I am not exactly sure, but there may be a fan speed resistor on your system. When they burn out, the symptom is similar to what you describe. There is a full moon bus club campout next weekend at Anastasia State Park. Come out and find us. Details are at the Full Moon Bus Club website. mark
_________________
☮️
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
douglas225
Samba Member


Joined: February 06, 2011
Posts: 56
Location: St. Augustine, FL
douglas225 is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mark,

thanks for the reply and the invitation. if i can, i will try and stop by on saturday. is there a particular place that you guys will be meeting - the camp sites are so isolated and separated it will be hard to see a bunch of you unless there is a gathering.

anyways, thanks for your thoughts. i do have relay switches for the fan speeds.

will it hurt the system to keep running the compressor until it is dead?
_________________
1989 Vanagon Westfalia (all original)
Manual Transmission
Air Condition
currently around 95k miles
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
MarkWard
Samba Member


Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17014
Location: Retired South Florida
MarkWard is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There should be a low pressure switch that keeps the compressor from running if it is low on freon to prevent damage. I wonder if it has been bypassed? The compressor is a common part even if you need to swap the endplate to match your hoses Sanden 508 I believe is the model. Most parts places require you to replace the drier to have a valid warranty on the new compressor. A system flush when the compressor is replaced, will tell you the extent of the crap caught up in the system. I am not there to say. The expansion valve has a very small orafice and does not take much to get partially plugged.

I just installed an entire new aftermarket AC system in my Vanagon. I just did not want to deal with old used parts. In the long run, it may have been cheaper.

The majority of the campers will be near sites 4,5, and 6. We noticed it late and had to take what was left. We have a reservation for site 24. We have our dog, so will be limited to what we can do with the group. There is talk of a pub crawl into St Augustine Saturday night. mark
_________________
☮️
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Alaric.H
Samba Member


Joined: March 28, 2009
Posts: 2529
Location: Sandy Springs GA
Alaric.H is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are 2 fan resistors on the fan 1 for each motor. I just 2 in because I only had the highest speed #4. I bought good used ones from Terry K I now have all 4 speeds.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
douglas225
Samba Member


Joined: February 06, 2011
Posts: 56
Location: St. Augustine, FL
douglas225 is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Alaric.H wrote:
There are 2 fan resistors on the fan 1 for each motor. I just 2 in because I only had the highest speed #4. I bought good used ones from Terry K I now have all 4 speeds.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


thanks...sounds like we have the same issue. what was the part numbers that you got from Terry K, i would like to explore purchasing them.

thanks,doug
_________________
1989 Vanagon Westfalia (all original)
Manual Transmission
Air Condition
currently around 95k miles
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
MarkWard
Samba Member


Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17014
Location: Retired South Florida
MarkWard is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you look close at the picture you can see the part number. They used the same resistor in Factory air german rabbits and sciroccos.
_________________
☮️
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.