Date:         Wed, 5 Jan 2000 21:07:20 -0800
Reply-To:     Graham Challis <centumg@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Graham Challis <centumg@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: 91 Westy rear heater core smell - no leak!
Comments: To: Mark McCulley <transporter99@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Interesting on a westy though - I KNEW I should've
bought the westy instead!!

--- Graham Challis <centumg@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Maybe true on a Westy but NOT true on a regular
> vanagon with the 3 passenger backseat/bed.  Country
> Homes didn't use their own bed when a vanagon was
> already equipped with a full width bed.  Maybe
> there's
> a trick I don't know about but as far as I can tell
> the horizontal bar spanning the width of the seat
> behind the wooden panel prevents you from removing
> the
> heater cowling.
>
> Graham
>
> --- Mark McCulley <transporter99@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Note that this only applies to Country Homes
> > conversions. You don't have
> > remove the kickboard or the bed to remove the
> heater
> > on a Westfalia.
> >
> > MM
> >
> > >From: Graham Challis <centumg@YAHOO.COM>
> > >
> > >When you go to take the heater box off, if you're
> > not
> > >averse to a bit of non-visible mutilation, then
> > after
> > >you take the wood kick board off, cut out the
> > heater
> > >box at the bottom where it goes under the heater
> > unit
> > >(it'll be obvious what to do once you take the
> > board
> > >off) - that way you can easily get the surround
> off
> > >without having to disassemble the bed.  When you
> > put
> > >the new core in and reassemble everything you
> won't
> > >even notice the bit that's missing.  The box is
> > some
> > >sort of fibreglass so it's easy to cut.
> > >
> > >There's a msg. in the archives about this that I
> > >posted a while back - I had exactly the same
> > symptoms
> > >as you describe, plus earlier I'd replaced the
> > valve
> > >without doing the little mod. to the surround -
> the
> > >second time I started to unbolt the bed I
> thought:
> > >"why am I doing this again - this is stupid!".
> > >
> > >Graham
> > >90 GL auto Country Homes Camper
> > >
> > >--- Jim & Melody <JiMelody@ZIANET.COM> wrote:
> > > > HK,
> > > > Order another heater core.  We enjoyed the
> sweet
> > > > maple syrup smell in our 91
> > > > for 3.5  years.  Actually thought someone had
> > > > spilled syrup near the heater.
> > > > Over the weekend we went up to the mountains
> in
> > the
> > > > snow and as I sat next
> > > > to the van enjoying some hot chocolate I
> noticed
> > > > coolant in the sliding tray
> > > > at the bottom of the side door.  hmmm.  I too
> > > > evaluated the situation with
> > > > the heater hot and running, nary a leak
> > (obviously
> > > > knew it was leaking but
> > > > trying to pinpoint locations).  Quit for the
> > night
> > > > and had a nice puddle in
> > > > the morning.  Pulled the heater core out and
> > sure
> > > > enough, the bottom 1/4
> > > > inch was blue from a longstanding leak which
> > > > evidently just increased.  I'll
> > > > bet yours is similar and the fan evaporates
> the
> > > > little coolant which drips
> > > > into the core tray.  You never know when it
> will
> > get
> > > > worse so better to
> > > > replace when you can.  BD has mine on the way.
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Jim
> > > > 91 Syncro AW
> > > > 99 NB TDI
> > > > Alamogordo NM
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Horace K. Sawyer
> > <firestream@MINDSPRING.COM>
> > > > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2000 7:34 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: 91 Westy rear heater core smell -
> > no
> > > > leak!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Very strong sickly sweet odor of hot
> coolant.
> > I
> > > > examined the heater box
> > > > > unit, and open/close valve with the engine
> > warm
> > > > and running.  No evidence
> > > > > of a leak visible.  I read some posts about
> > the
> > > > open/close valve being
> > > > > prone to leak, but not the sign of the
> > slightest
> > > > drip.
> > > > >
> > > > > I did not rip open the heater box to examine
> > the
> > > > heater core.  Still no
> > > > > sign of leaking underneath.  So where is it
> > coming
> > > > from?  It definitely is
> > > > > emanating from the rear heater.  My nose
> > knows. :
> > > > )
> > > > >
> > > > > This smell is driving me batty (more so than
> I
> > > > already am, so they say).
> > > > > Hope this odor is not DANGERous!  We have an
> > 11
> > > > month baby girl who loves
> > > > > to ride in the "Edelweiss."
> > > > >
> > > > > Should I go ahead and order another heater
> > core?
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks in advance
> > > > > HK
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
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