Date:         Sun, 26 Mar 2000 11:18:10 -0800
Reply-To:     "Todd D. Gadberry" <toddgrx@PACBELL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Todd D. Gadberry" <toddgrx@PACBELL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Leaking antifreeze from under rear passenger seat
Content-type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

In my desperate attempt to stop the flow, I did fashion a stop with a cut
rubber glove (to serve as gasket/thread tape) and the broken top.  The valve
did nothing in either direction. I'll probably take it in tomorrow.

How to stop flow to that rear heater core assembly if valve not working? My
manual is already on order and on its way. Other than this little (?)
problem, I'm really happy... everything is in almost pristine shape (for a
16yr old van).  Got it for a steal $4800-- at least that's what I think.

Aware of toxicity (blindness, metabolic acidosis, etc).

Todd

----- Original Message -----
From: "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@enter.net>
To: "Todd D. Gadberry" <toddgrx@PACBELL.NET>
Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 9:41 AM
Subject: Re: Leaking antifreeze from under rear passenger seat


> Todd,
>
> Welcome to the infamous leaking rear heater core.  There are 2 distinct
parts
> under there...the valve mechanism and the core itself.  I'm not sure if
what
> the Bus Depot sells is the whole unit, but that's probably the way to go.
>
> BTW, the valve allows you to shut the flow off in the summer since the
coolant
> always flows through there otherwise, but of course, you don't turn the
fan on
> to actually blow air across the heat exchanger.  Try shutting off the
valve and
> see if it stops leaking.
>
> BTW, ethylene glycol is toxic...bad for your liver.  Don't taste too much
of it.
>
> -Karl
>
> > Bought 84 Westy 3 days ago... my first.
> >
> > The second night that the carpet seemed a little tacky and tasted it...
> > yup, ethylene glycol.
> >
> > I traced it back to a little do-hickey underneath the rear passenger
seat.
> >  I can tell that there's some sort of heating unit there and there's
some
> > hoses coming in from the engine compartment.
> >
> > What seems to be broken is a little cap in the hose area.  But I don't
> > know what everything is called. The cap seems to be stripped and maybe a
> > piece broken off. There's also a silvery-metal valvey looking thing, but
> > doesn't seem to stop the flow of fluid.
> >
> > I'd like to get the part(s) and fix myself.  What is the name of the
cap?
> > Can I find it at Bus Depot? What is the silvery-thing (does it sound
> > broken)?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Todd
> > 84 Westy
> >
>
>
> Karl and Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA
> '87 Westfalia Weekender  "Beverley" - 194K miles
> http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/
> PA/NJ Vanagon owner's mailing list:
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon/