Date:         Tue, 6 Mar 2001 17:32:12 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Gruber <rgruberj@USWEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Gruber <rgruberj@USWEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: access to the heater/fresh air fan; do i need to remove dash?
Comments: To: sg <sg@SUNSETWINONA.COM>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

CHeck the ground first; I went to great lengths to transplant a heater
motor once, only to have to fix that.

sg wrote:

> Hi List, I'm trying to figure out what is wrong with the fan for my
> heater unit.  Sometimes it comes on when I activate it, sometimes it
> doesnt.  When it comes on, usually it makes a squealing noise, and
> what's more, stops operating after a while.  It seems to like
> operating best when the van (85 vanagon westfalia, 'Buster') is
> moving.  All this data has led me to think the electric motor is just
> 'gummed up' or has some blockage, and maybe an inspection and possible
> cleaning will do wonders.  The thing is, how the heck do I get at this
> thing?  The Haynes manual says you have to remove the facia, which is
> what they call the dashboard, and to do this, you have do disattach
> the steering column from the facia.  Well, the steering column is
> attached to the facia by some funky shear bolts, which apparently you
> have to drill thru to get off. Well, I called my local VW mechanic
> looking to see if he had some of these bolts that I could use to
> replace the ones that I would be drilling off, and he's said, 'What a
> minute dude, you dont need to remove the dash, you can get access to
> the heater components from underneath towards the center, just remove
> the plastic cover over the shifter.'  Well, so I did this, and there
> is *some* access to the heater components, but it doesnt look like
> enough to get at the motor. So now, I'm confused.  Do  I need to take
> the dash off, and deal with the steering column, or don't I? Anybody
> done work on the heater before?  How did you approach it? thanks,steve
> & buster




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