Date:         Sun, 29 Aug 2004 08:59:03 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Don't Replaced that heater valve today!
In-Reply-To:  <da.12ac749b.2e634bb0@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Some early watercooled have the control valve inside, to the left of the
glovebox. I've owned over 20 vanagons, 5 with the inside valve. I guess
I am fairly degraded.

Many later models, mostly ones with A/C, have a larger radiator cooling
fan motor and this reduces the work area for dealing with the valve in
it's most common location. I lay an old blanket on the spare door so I
can take my time. Having a spare cable clip is a good idea as they can
get deformed in the installation process.

In models without A/C I typically just lower the radiator about 6" onto
a jack stand and remove the upper grill. This allows me to  reach right
in and replace the valve while standing in front of the van. Lowering
can also be done with A/C but the dual radiator is heavier and the A/C
hoses are clamped to the chassis near the radiator and done have much
slack. Replacing the valve while the cooling system is drained for some
other reason makes things easier since the radiator will be lighter.

The heater circuit is part of a closed loop. Adding a single stop valve
near the heater core in no way 'isolates a branch from the rest of  the
system'.

Mark




Firstname Lastname wrote:

>In a message dated 8/29/04 9:53:33 AM, drillock@EARTHLINK.NET writes:
>
><< The procedure for replacing the stock heater valve varies depending on
>model as does the degree of difficulty.>>
>
>I guess I've just been unlucky; the 4 Vanagons I've owned, '84 to '90, 2WD
>and Syncro, have all had the heater control valve stuck in the same hole.
>
><<Some models of Vanagons have additional dash controls that preclude the
>easy removal of the heater cover, to put it mildly.>>
>
>I guess removing the couple of screws which hold the axle locker control
>panel to the dash of a Syncro so equipped can be a hardship.
>
><<"Fixing" the heater control by adding a valve that many will find to be a
>pain to access is just another degradation of the ownership experience.>>
>
>Come on now, we all know that a person is degraded the moment he buys a
>Vanagon.  The stop valve can be positioned so that it can be operated by releasing
>the glovebox stays and reaching in through the glovebox cavity.  I guess if
>one finds it really necessary to have instant control of the stop valve all yous
>gotta do is drill a hole in the valve operator handle and tag on a piece of
>coat hanger wire.
>
><<As for the "proper piping system" remark, a stop valve is often there to
>allow the flow to be stopped while the control valve is serviced or replaced.>>
>
>. . . or to isolate a branch from the rest of the system which I think Robert
>has done admirably.  By the way, even VW refers this part as a heater CONTROL
>valve.
>
>
>
>George
>
>
>