Date:         Wed, 7 Jun 2000 13:43:42 -0700
Reply-To:     vince_pappalardo@HP.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Vince P." <vince_pappalardo@HP.COM>
Subject:      Re: Front Heater Control Valve Replacement Tricks?
Comments: To: happycampers@picusnet.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

  I priced the part at the dealer and the Bus Depot.  My local dealer ship
wanted $1 more than the Bus Depot.  However, the rear heater control valve was
$2 cheaper at the dealer than the Bus Depot.  I decided to get all the parts
from the Bus Depot since I was buying other parts from the Bus Depot that saved
me a lot more than the $1 net savings of these two parts over the dealer prices.
However, if this is the only part you need you could save shipping charges that
may be more than the $1 and get it faster as the dealers often stock this type
of part.  Here is the part number and Bus Depot price (it's not that expensive
of a part, the rear heater core by contrast was $40 less at the Bus Depot than
the dealer).

Front Heater Control Valve, Vanagon, $6.95, Part Number 171 819 809E

  By the way, I never did install the part.  I sold the van and gave the part to
the new owners to install.  I did however, buy the hose clamp pliers (before I
sold the van) for $13 from a local parts store.  I think I could have gotten the
upper hose clamp off with the hose clamp pliers.  I don't even recommend trying
any thing else in that tight a space.  I also would go down to the hardware
store and buy some rubber stoppers (The kind that go in test tubes, I think they
were size #2) to plug the lines as you remove the control valve to minimize the
amount of coolant you loose and to keep the darn hoses from dripping on your
head as you work under that area -- coolant in the mouth and eyes is not a good
thing.

Vince.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave C [mailto:happycampers@picusnet.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 12:01 PM
To: vince_pappalardo@HP.COM
Subject: Re: Front Heater Control Valve Replacement Tricks?


on 5/24/2000 4:36 PM, Vince P. at vince_pappalardo@HP.COM wrote:

> I am replacing the heater control valve on my 85 Vanogon.  I spent one hour
> last
> night trying to get the upper spring hose clamp off and was not successful.
> Any
> tips or tricks on how to make this job go easier would be appreciated.  I
> searched the archives and just found more tales of whoa and no good advice on
> how to do this replacement.
>
> TIA,
>
> Vince.
> '85 Westy (FS: $7000)
>

Vince,
Mine's going too.
Did you shop the part around?
If you did, who had the best $$?
And what's the part #?

Cheers,
Dave C.
Williamsburg, VA
           zzzzzzzzz__
         |E[__] [__]|[_]\\
         | _DC&SP | _ ||
* * * =-( )---------( )--=
'85 GL Westy (His)
'91 Cabriolet (Hers)