Date:         Wed, 22 Jan 2003 10:40:52 -0800
Reply-To:     Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Cold air in winter
Comments: To: Clarence J Falarski <lamont@MINDSPRING.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <001201c2c2a7$1bc4bb40$8308b341@9jgty01>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Clarence,
It sounds like your vent flaps that control the incoming air to the heater unit are possibly out of adjustment or the foam rubber seals are worn out allowing fresh air to circulate in.
If you remove the glove box you will be able to see some of the cables and vent controls. If it is an adjustment problem you can work the levers and see the cable moving to open and close the flap near the floor or bottom of the heater unit. There is a clip that keeps the cable taugth so it will function opening and closing.  You can adjust the amount of play from here.
If the lever and flap dampers are working well, then your other problem is more involved.  The remedy is to take the entire heater appart and repair the foam rubber around the flaps.  To do that you will have to remove the dash and pull the heater unit out. split the heater unit to service the flaps and replace the foam rubber.  you will probably have to custom make the foam rubber since the last time I checked, there were no parts available from VW on this.
The cheapest remedy is to cut a cardboard piece and slide it in front of the vent opening under the front upper grill.  This will block the air from entering the van from there.  Your heater may not work too well since it will be sucking from a closed system.
Good Luck, Let me know if you need dash removal and heater removal instructions.
Joel
89 Syncro Westy - Rochester NY.
 Clarence J Falarski <lamont@MINDSPRING.COM> wrote:Listies.

I have a 1990 Westy Multi, got it late last Summer. In Summer I got a lot of heat comming from the heater vents which I could not control even though the heater was off, I think it was comming from the radiator. Now that Winter is here I am getting a lot of cold air from under the dash board, especially behind the heater controls although it is drafty all across the bottom of the dash area . Anyone have any suggestions as to where these problems are comming from and how do I fix them...?

regards.
clarence
1990 multi.
pinehurst, nc.


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