Date:         Tue, 29 May 2007 15:38:33 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      NVC: VW vacuum actuated heater controls
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Having spent the day yesterday troubleshooting the vacuum heat/air cond.
control head on my trusty around-town '93 VW Fox I wanted to take this time to
compliment the Vanagon on it's cable controlled heating system.

You've gotta be kidding me with the vacuum set up on the Fox. Who does a
series of hoses and servos running throughout the vehicle benefit?

The Fox's control head (heater/air cond. buttons) has got to be one of the
most cumbersome ways to skin a cat.  I drilled and opened a failed control head
just to see inside.

(Remember that guy in the institution in "Slingblade" who said "I think to
really understand something you need to blow it up and examine all the little
burning pieces" Uh oh.)

And inside looks like a primitive rubric's cube of notched metal sliders
moving electrical connectors and the most primitive of all tiny
rubber-stamp-looking maze that slides to different positions and allows vacuum into little
pinholes then sends it to a servo to open a heater door flap or defroster flap.

I CAN REACH THE PASSENGER DOOR FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITHOUT LEANING TO THE
RIGHT IN THE FOX! And they needed a vacuum system to open the defroster vent?

Anyway, while I don't understand the advantage, and I haven't totally fixed
the thing, it is pretty cool hearing that momentary hiss in the dashboard as
you switch off the heat or what have you. Makes me feel like I'm in my Grandad's
'74 Chrysler with the giant local/distant search buttons on the dial radio
and a series of servos for the heat/ air cond. that also hissed and whispered to
the point where they did nothing. But, oh, that Corintian leather!

Anway next time I have to deal with my Vanagons heater cable I'll count
myself lucky.

Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA, CA



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