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Heating & Cooling / Re: Monkeys guide to AC in your Mk2.
Anyway, you seem to have a good handle on this from at least the perspective of getting your hands dirty and doing the job, even though yours is a different car slightly and also you took donor parts from other models/years - which is really cool.
I was just wondering if you could give some input on this list whether it's accurate and any other thoughts you have.
# VW Golf Mk2 RHD OEM A/C Conversion Shopping List
**Vehicle:** 1989 Volkswagen Golf Syncro RHD
**VIN:** WVWZZZ1GZKW493527
**Original engine:** GU — 1.8 EA827
**Factory A/C:** No
## 1. Highest-priority RHD A/C parts
These are the parts I would actively search for first because they are either specifically RHD or difficult to substitute with LHD pieces.
* [ ] **358 820 103 — RHD evaporator with expansion valve**
* ETKA position 19.
* This is explicitly the RHD evaporator.
* LHD equivalent is `357 820 103`.
* **Very high priority.**
* [ ] **358 820 021 — RHD A/C fan/blower assembly**
* ETKA position 5.
* Explicitly marked RHD.
* LHD equivalent is `357 820 021`.
* Do not confuse this with the ordinary non-A/C RHD heater fan `192 959 101`.
* [ ] **192 819 081 — RHD intermediate piece**
* ETKA position 12.
* Connects the HVAC assembly into the RHD air-distribution system.
* LHD equivalent is `191 819 081 A`.
* [ ] **192 819 151 A — RHD footwell vent**
* ETKA position 24.
* RHD-specific outlet from the HVAC/distribution assembly.
* [ ] **192 820 353 — RHD connection box**
* ETKA position 29.
* ETKA calls for **quantity 2** on the RHD A/C installation.
* LHD uses `191 820 353`, quantity 1.
* This quantity/layout difference makes this one especially worth obtaining with a complete donor box.
* [ ] **192 820 593 — RHD cover**
* ETKA position 34A.
* RHD counterpart to `191 820 593`.
* [ ] **192 819 837 — RHD temperature-control flap cable**
* ETKA position 36 on the A/C diagram.
* Do not substitute the LHD `191 819 837`.
* [ ] **192 820 154 A — RHD intake duct**
* ETKA position 38.
* One of the important large plastic pieces between the body intake and HVAC assembly.
* LHD equivalent is `191 820 154 A`.
## 2. Main RHD A/C heater/evaporator box
* [ ] **Complete RHD Mk2 A/C HVAC housing/box — verify actual molded part number before purchase**
* This is what I would search for rather than attempting to assemble the housing from scattered plastic pieces.
* Ideally buy it complete with:
* evaporator;
* blower;
* flap assemblies;
* vacuum actuators;
* drain;
* expansion valve;
* thermostat;
* brackets;
* seals;
* RHD connection pieces.
### Important ETKA anomaly
The VIN-filtered A/C page supplied here lists:
`191 820 024 A — housing — LHD`
but does **not** show a corresponding RHD housing number.
Therefore:
* [ ] **Do not purchase `191 820 024 A` assuming it will fit RHD.**
* [ ] Ask sellers for photographs of the actual RHD Mk2 A/C housing and molded numbers.
* [ ] Prefer an intact RHD donor HVAC assembly.
## 3. RHD refrigerant pipes and hoses
For your **GU engine**, these are particularly important because the refrigerant routing changes across the firewall on RHD cars.
* [ ] **192 820 741 — RHD refrigerant pipe, condenser → evaporator**
* ETKA position 22.
* Explicit RHD counterpart to LHD `191 820 742 A`.
* [ ] **192 820 743 — RHD refrigerant hose, compressor → evaporator**
* ETKA position 30.
* Explicitly marked RHD.
* This is one of the major pieces I would try hard to obtain from an original RHD Mk2 A/C donor.
### Not applicable to your GU unless configuration changes
* [ ] `192 820 741 D` — RHD fluid-tank → evaporator pipe
* ETKA associates this version with **1P**, not your GU.
* [ ] `191 820 743 E` — refrigerant hose, marked RHD but also specifically **1P**
* Not the primary hose for your original GU configuration.
## 4. RHD condenser
* [ ] **192 820 413 E — RHD A/C condenser**
* Explicit RHD version.
* LHD version is `191 820 413 E`.
* For a factory-correct restoration, this is the condenser ETKA calls out for RHD.
## 5. RHD dashboard / air-distribution parts
Your car is already RHD, so some or all of these may already be present. Inspect what is currently in the car before buying duplicates.
* [ ] **192 819 363 A — RHD air-guide housing for centre vent**
* [ ] **192 819 723 — RHD left air hose**
* [ ] **192 819 724 A — RHD right air hose**
* [ ] **192 819 043 A — RHD air-guide channel**
* [ ] **192 819 045 A — RHD fresh-air/heater controls assembly**
* [ ] **192 819 353 A — RHD air-distribution housing**
* [ ] **192 819 831 — RHD control-lid cable, 668 mm**
* [ ] **192 819 835 — RHD defroster-flap cable, 448 mm**
* [ ] **192 819 837 — RHD temperature-control cable**
* [ ] **192 959 263 A — RHD series resistor**
* [ ] **1H2 819 031 B — RHD heater core**
These are RHD-specific pieces, but many belong to the ordinary RHD heater/ventilation system rather than being unique to A/C.
## 6. RHD A/C vacuum-system routing parts
The A/C HVAC box uses vacuum-operated functions, so don't overlook the vacuum plumbing when buying a donor setup.
* [ ] **N 020 139 1 — 4 × 1 vacuum tube**
* RHD installation uses a **700 mm** section.
* [ ] **191 823 567 — black clip**
* ETKA specifies **2** for RHD.
* LHD uses a different bracket (`811 611 797`).
Also obtain the shared A/C vacuum equipment:
* [ ] `191 820 601` — vacuum reservoir
* [ ] `171 820 609` — reservoir grommet
* [ ] `433 862 117` — non-return/check valve
* [ ] `2D0 129 737 A` — 4-4-4 T-piece
* [ ] `058 127 561` — Y-piece
* [ ] `191 820 605` — vacuum hoses with connections, if available
* [ ] associated small vacuum hose
## 7. A/C-specific HVAC pieces that are not marked RHD but should come with the donor box
These are not RHD-specific part numbers, but they are part of the factory A/C system and are easy to miss when buying only a bare housing.
* [ ] **191 820 676 A — vacuum unit for control valve**
* [ ] **191 898 013 — mounting parts for vacuum unit**
* [ ] **191 820 677 B — vacuum unit for temperature-regulating flap**
* [ ] **191 820 677 B — vacuum unit for intake duct**
* [ ] **191 820 679 — expansion valve**
* [ ] **191 820 692 — expansion-valve insulating piece**
* [ ] **191 959 281 — evaporator thermostat**
* [ ] **191 820 281 — thermostat reinforcement plate**
* [ ] **191 820 119 A / 191 819 418 A — condensate/water drain valve**
* [ ] **191 820 139 — seal**
* [ ] **191 820 129 — evaporator/HVAC seals**
* [ ] **191 820 845 — tensioning strap**
* [ ] **191 919 383 A — A/C fresh-air/heater-control trim**
* [ ] **321 959 511 A — blower switch**
* [ ] **191 959 513 — blower-switch knob**
## 8. GU-specific compressor installation
These are not RHD-specific, but because your car originally had the **GU**, ETKA gives a very clear factory compressor arrangement for it.
* [ ] **027 260 881 — A/C compressor bracket**
* GU/GX/RH/1P application.
* [ ] **027 260 917 A — angled compressor bracket**
* [ ] **034 903 555 B — associated bolt**
* [ ] **049 903 149 — bush**
* [ ] **037 260 921 — threaded bush**
* [ ] **027 260 937 — eye bolt**
* [ ] **068 260 849 G — 12.5 × 947 mm V-belt**
* GU application.
* [ ] **191 820 805 — A/C compressor**
* ETKA lists this compressor for GU/GX/RH/1P.
* [ ] **191 820 811 — electromagnetic clutch**
* GU/GX/RH/1P application.
Plus the listed mounting bolts/washers.
## 9. Shared refrigerant-system parts to collect
* [ ] `191 820 191 A` — receiver/drier, R12/R134a listing
* [ ] `191 820 721` — compressor → condenser refrigerant hose for GU group
* [ ] `321 959 483` — pressure switch
* [ ] `321 959 139 A` — low-pressure switch
* [ ] `161 971 988 C` — 2-pin connector housing
* [ ] `161 971 989 C` — 2-pin flat-contact housing
* [ ] `191 820 422 A` — condenser bracket, right
* [ ] `191 820 405` — condenser bracket
* [ ] `191 820 409` — bonded rubber bush
* [ ] all appropriate hose clamps and mounting clips
* [ ] all refrigerant O-rings — replace with new compatible material rather than relying on old donor seals
## 10. My preferred donor-parts purchase
If you find a breaker with a factory-A/C **RHD Mk2 Golf/Jetta**, I would try to buy the following as one package rather than item-by-item:
* [ ] Complete RHD A/C heater/evaporator box
* [ ] RHD evaporator
* [ ] RHD A/C blower
* [ ] RHD intake duct
* [ ] RHD connection boxes
* [ ] RHD intermediate piece
* [ ] RHD footwell duct
* [ ] All vacuum actuators
* [ ] Vacuum reservoir and plumbing
* [ ] Thermostat and wiring
* [ ] HVAC/A/C control panel
* [ ] All flap-control cables
* [ ] Both refrigerant pipes/hoses passing through the firewall
* [ ] RHD condenser
* [ ] All line-retaining brackets and clips
* [ ] Condensate drain parts
* [ ] Firewall grommets/seals
* [ ] Every screw, clip, stud and bracket attached to the HVAC box
The **complete RHD HVAC box and the RHD refrigerant lines are the pieces I would pursue first**. They are much harder to reproduce correctly than the compressor, condenser, receiver/drier, switches, O-rings and generic hardware.