Dash / chassis air conditioner on FC

[Pete Masterson]

The previous owner of my coach upgraded the chassis air to R134a --
but by the time I purchased it, the coolant had gone away after the
coach sat for months on a dealer's lot, unused. (Seals tend to dry
out under those conditions.) I had the system recharged.

The dash air is not highly effective at general cooling -- the roof
ACs are much better at that. However, especially when traveling into
the sun (while driving south during the day or west in the
afternoon), even when it is otherwise relatively cool, the "fishbowl"
at the front of the coach can be uncomfortably warm. That's when the
dash air can (and for me) does make a difference. In those
conditions, it puts just enough cooling right where it's needed -- no
need to fire up the generator and run the roof ACs.

So, is it worth restoring/updating the dash air system -- that
depends on what you might want. For me, I prefer to be on the cool
side ... so it's important. Someone else, who might like it a little
warmer, won't.
Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
El Sobrante, CA




On Mar 7, 2007, at 5:47 PM, birdshill123 wrote:

> When I bought my 88 Bird other owners told me that the dash air in
> these babies never works well. The PO had my unit at the factory in
> 04.
> They installed a new compressor and believe it or not left it with
> R12.
> We have used it driving through Texas in the low 90's as well as in
> Mexico at the same temps. Works great to about 90 to 92. Beyond
> that we
> use the roof air to supplement the cooling. It has never been charged
> since 04 and still is OK.. I am fortunate that here in Mexico R12 is
> still easily obtainable.
>
> Bruce
> 1988 FC35




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