Date:         Thu, 5 Aug 2004 17:24:09 -0700
Reply-To:     Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Climate Control Cable Meltdown - '84 Westy
In-Reply-To:  <83.1273ba06.2e441eeb@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

--- Gwg1928@aol.com wrote:
> I would love to know how you took the thing apart?

By "thing", I assume you mean the front heater box.  Opening the front heater box is covered in
the archives.  One has to BREAK the 'thing' apart along its 360 degree seam.  There are heat/spot
welded tabs along the seam.  One has to take a thin knife and cut through the plastic welds along
the seam.  I ended up using a hammer to tap the knife into each end of the heat welded tabs.  And
a flat head screwdriver to help pry apart what one has just cut apart.  I just did it yesterday
and it took me a while, but if one looks carefully, one can see what needs to be done.

One then needs to get it back together again and that requires a special set a little clips the go
around other (non-heat-welded) tabs spaced around the seams (the clips are available from several
list vendors).  VW seems to have predicted that the heater box would have to be opened as the
re-seal tabs are there, a bit of silicon sealant might help too.

My mechanic says that VW allows only 5.5 hours for replacing the blower motor.  On my 5th try
maybe I could do it 5.5 hours if there was a bet on.  My first try (yesterday) took about 6 hours
to get the dash apart and the heater box open, but then I was NOT in a hurry.  I assume a like
time for re-assembly.  I'm taking the liberty to post your p-mail question to the list.  OK??
Malcolm




__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage!
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail