[Vwdiesel] a/c, '82 diesel rabbit

[Gary Shea]

I've got an '82 diesel wabbit with non-functioning a/c.  If I override
the low-pressure switch (above the passenger-side wheel well), the
compressor comes on.  The hardware and wiring are all there, but there's
no refrigerant.  There used to be a little bit, just enough to hear the
hissssss when I opened the circuit while replacing the heater core and
removing the pens, plastic forks, etc., from the big black box.

How to get this thing working?  I seem to recall someone saying that 134
won't work in this car because the heat exchanger is too small.  On the
upside, this post
www.audifans.com/pipermail/vwdiesel/2003-September/006016.html
from Val makes me think it just might work anyway.  And it's full of
useful information.

I have an extra compressor laying around from an '85 Quantum TD, if
that's useful for anything... lots bigger, dunno if it'd fit in the
Rabbit.

Any help appreciated.

        Gary