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Starting a massive VW Rabbit A/C overhaul.

vdubspeed on Sun April 20, 2008 1:50 PM User is offlineView users profile

Year: 1979
Make: VW
Model: Rabbit
Engine Size: 1.8
Refrigerant Type: undecided
Ambient Temp: hot
Pressure Low: n/a
Pressure High: n/a
Country of Origin: United States

Well here's the story.

My Rabbit had a 1.6L 8V with the york compressor and stock everything else. I did the dumb vacuum and refill with 134 and it was "okay" but never good when I got into traffic or the mid summer.

That motor blew popped a headgasket so I installed a 1987 Scirocco 1.8L 16V that came with a Sanden 508. After the motor swap I had the system vacuumed again by the local firestone place and refilled. He said he couldn't get his gauges to attached to my high side because of the headlight so he only filled it from the low side till their were no air bubbles in the drier window. That set me back $140 and the a/c performance was hardly anything to write home about. I measured the temp at the vents and it usually was in the low to mid 60s on an 80 degree day.

So I decided to quit screwing around and give the a/c system a complete overhaul. From ackits.com I ordered:
1. new compressor
2. new drier
3. new expansion valve
4. o-rings and nylog
5. mastercool DIY kit(gauges/vacuum/UV kit/manual)

I will be installing the Scirocco condenser which is about 1/2 taller and 3 inches wider. It's still a tube and fin design like the original rabbit though.

So as I wait for the goodies to get here in about a week I will be pulling all the old stuff out. Firestone wanted $40 to pull the 134 I JUST had them install and I told them to shove it. The local garage charged me $20 and I thought that was a little more appropriate.

As I wait though I will be cleaning out the larger condenser and evaporator.

My current question is...should I use r12 which is what the system was designed for or will r134 be good. I have a 91 GTI with a comparable a/c system and it runs 134 with great results. I'd hate to spend all the extra time and effort on getting r12 if it will only get vent temps 1-2 degrees colder.

I will keep this thread updated as I clean/replace/install/vacuum/recharge the system.

Thank you ackits for the great products/prices/and customer service.

Regards,

Jason from Valdosta GA.

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bohica2xo on Sun April 20, 2008 2:02 PM User is offline

The heart of the system is the condensor. If you can't get rid of the heat, you get nothing.

I would strongly recomend going to a later style condensor of higher effeciency & capacity. A 1996 Golf used a good serpentine condensor Like This.

Reusing an old condensor is just not worth the 72 bucks. Clean everything, add a new condensor to your shopping list.

B.

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"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

vdubspeed on Sun April 20, 2008 5:08 PM User is offlineView users profile

no can do on that kind of condenser. It would not fit in the confined space I'm allotted. Today I managed to get the Scirocco condenser it and physically I could not fit ANYTHING larger. Now yes there are better condensers in design but I'm sure this will work fine. Like I said...my 91 GTI has a very similiar a/c system and it blows nice and cold and was never worked over. The car also has 175K on it!

Pics of the new condenser later...

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Edited: Sun April 20, 2008 at 5:08 PM by vdubspeed

bohica2xo on Sun April 20, 2008 6:18 PM User is offline

Well, since the sirocco condensor is bigger than that golf part, good luck with your project.

B.

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"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

vdubspeed on Tue April 22, 2008 12:57 PM User is offlineView users profile

Here's a big update on the VW site:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3801451

A quick question
1. how much oil and refridgerant should I put in the system?

Everything will be new/flushed.

Thanks,

Jason

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