Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 08:28:48 -0500
Reply-To: Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Subject: Vanagon Life At 40 Below (Webasto)
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<font size=3>This from my sister. <br>
<br>
This is a Webasto coolant heater that Ark Mirvus(sp?) sold her and that
Dennis Haynes installed.<br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite cite>Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 00:47:57 EST<br>
From: LisaDrew@aol.com<br>
Subject: Re: My Webasto in Alaska<br>
To: <derekdrew@rcn.com><br>
X-Mailer: Unknown (No Version)<br>
<br>
HI Derek, I thought this string of e-mails might interest you. In the way
of emails, the string starts at the bottom.<br>
<br>
In a message dated Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:42:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LisaDrew writes:<br>
<br>
> Hi Ark, thanks VERY much for the fast reply. Derek is fine and
living mostly in Washington, D.C. I'm going to see him at Christmas, and
I'll say hi for you. I'll give Ed (my mechanic) your phone number
and your e-mail address.<br>
> <br>
> I'm going to be gone for two weeks, and I'm very much hoping my
repairs can be completed while I'm away, because I'll need a vehicle when
I return!<br>
> <br>
> I want to save your time for answers to Ed's questions, but here are
*my* answers to *your* questions in case you're really that
interested:<br>
> <br>
> Last winter (my first winter here), it did not get down much below
minus 15 or minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Mostly it was between minus 10
and 10 above. I used the Webasto all winter long to warm up the engine
before starting. I never counted on the Webasto to fully warm up the
interior, but it did ok. I never measured the temperature inside, and I
never went on a very long winter drive. I also kept the batteries charged
with a battery charger Dennis rigged to the plug-in. The Webasto runs off
the coach battery.<br>
> <br>
> This winter I was doing the same. The temperatures dropped to minus
40 degrees F., which has been rather interesting. (At that temperature,
the Webasto pumps some heat into the interior, but not enough to get it
what you would call warm. Separately, a VW van driving at minus 40
degrees gets a lot of cold gusts coming in that don't help the heat
situation.) But in my driving around Fairbanks bundled up for winter,
this actually is never a problem.<br>
> <br>
> A couple of weeks ago the Webasto stopped working, a problem I
thought was related to low battery power in the extreme cold. But that
doesn't actually seem to be the problem, and now my mechanic is telling
me about the leaking coolant. Unfortunately, without the Webasto I've had
to do some cold starts, which have created other problems for the engine.
I'm about to cave and get an engine block heater. Or another vehicle, but
that means selling this one, and I sure hate to do that. <br>
> <br>
> (On a sad separate but related note, I took a big pay cut to move
here, and if fixing the Webasto is expensive, I will have to just ask Ed
to figure out how to bypass it and stop using it.)<br>
> <br>
> In what is probably a separate problem, both batteries seem to be
draining power, so I may have some kind of electrical short. I mention it
here in case your heaterman brain says, "Aha! It's all
related!"<br>
> <br>
> Happy holidays -- Lisa Drew<br>
> <br>
> In a message dated Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:12:04 PM Eastern Standard
Time, "ARKADY MIRVIS" <heaterman@nac.net> writes:<br>
> <br>
> > Lisa,<br>
> > Great to hear from you. How are you doing? How is Derek? So,
you were happy<br>
> > with your BBW-46.<br>
> > Tell me about the lowest ambient temperature at which you were
starting the<br>
> > heater and which temperature you were able to reach inside and
how long it<br>
> > took.<br>
> > Sorry to hear about heater problems.<br>
> > I imported your heater from Germany. Let your mechanic to speak
to me, my<br>
> > phone is below. Ask him to have full heater nameplate info for
me.<br>
> > I can help to locate the parts.<br>
> > <br>
> > Kind regards,<br>
> > Ark Mirvis - "The Heaterman"<br>
> > 31 Byram Bay Road<br>
> > Hopatcong, NJ 07843<br>
> > Tel: (973) 398-6363<br>
> > Fax: (973) 398-7298<br>
> > ----- Original Message -----<br>
> > From: <LisaDrew@aol.com><br>
> > To: <heaterman@nac.net><br>
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 6:09 PM<br>
> > Subject: My Webasto in Alaska<br>
> > <br>
> > <br>
> > > Hi Ark, remember me? (Lisa Drew, Derek Drew's sister.) I'm
living in<br>
> > Fairbanks, Alaska, where I still drive my syncro Westfalia. The
Webasto has<br>
> > been great until just a couple of weeks ago, when it stopped
working. It<br>
> > tries and tries to start (clicking) but doesn't fire up.<br>
> > ><br>
> > > My mechanic, who I completely trust and respect, tells me
the Webasto is<br>
> > leaking coolant. He thinks it needs a water pump and also the
plastic<br>
> > fitting that connects to the hose.<br>
> > ><br>
> > > I've got two questions for you:<br>
> > > 1) Do you know how I can get those parts?<br>
> > > 2) Would you mind answering a brief question or two from
him if I give him<br>
> > your e-mail address? His name is Ed Simons.<br>
> > ><br>
> > > THANK YOU!!! -- Lisa Drew<br>
> > ></font></blockquote><br>
<div>_______________________________________________</div>
<div>Derek
Drew
</div>
<div>CEO & Co-Founder </div>
<div><a href="http://www.consumersearch.com/" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://www.ConsumerSearch.com/</a>
</div>
<div>New York, NY & Washington DC</div>
<div>===========================</div>
<div>"Best Expert Review Site" </div>
<div>for product reviews on the Internet </div>
<div>Jan. 2001, PC World Magazine</div>
<div>==========================</div>
<div>derekdrew@rcn.com</div>
<div>212-580-6486 </div>
<br>
Alternate numbers for the industrious phone caller that wants to try every avenue: 212-580-6486 (best), 917-848-6425 (cell); 202-966-7907 (Work), 212-580-4459 (Home), 202-966-0938 (Home), 978-359-8533 (fax [efax]), 212-269-3188 (New York Seaport office).
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