Date:         Sat, 22 Sep 2007 08:32:20 -0700
Reply-To:     Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Dead mouse benind Westy cabinets?
In-Reply-To:  <a06020400c31ac6700528@[192.168.19.100]>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

And if you have any signs of seam rust, or rust around the camper inlets, I would recommend
taking the time to pull the sink and water tank cabinets, and deal with the rust from the inside
with POR-15. Really not as hard as it sounds, and very satisfying once it's all done. It's really
good to know exactly what condition things are in back there. Mine was surprisingly good
(especially for an originally east coast van with >400k kms), with little rust in the usual places,
but an odd rust through spot about 1/2" in diameter right beneath the sink, about 6" from the
drain outlet. It was spotting this rust hole from under the van one day that convinced me I had
to get in there and pull it all out. I POR'd and fiberglassed the hole, and used POR-15 along
the bottom edge beneath the camper inlets, around all the inlets, and applied rubber mat
sound deadening to the inside of the sheet metal. I also pulled up the plywood flooring to
check for any rust (none found) since this can only be done with the cabinets out. Plan for a
week of downtime to do it right. Also a good time to clean or replace the water hoses from
tank to sink.

On 22 Sep 2007 at 6:23, Paul Guzyk <paullist@GUZYK.COM> wrote:

> Sounds like a good excuse to service your fridge if you have not
> pulled it for a few years.  One the fridge is out you can see pretty
> much everywhere a critter would go.
>
> A 13/16 open end wrench is best for undoing the propane line at the
> fridge, but you can use a crescent wrench or Vice grip if you have to.
>
> Ben has some helpful photos/notes here:
> http://www.benplace.com/fridge.htm
>
>
> >For the last few days, I've smelled an awful smell, like a dead
> >animal, in my Westfalia. I've sniffed around, and think I've
> >narrowed it down to behind the fridge or behind the whole cabinet
> >system, in the wall behind the camper inlets. I can smell it from
> >the fridge vent and when I pull up the "dummy floor" of the cabinet
> >next to the water tank. I've never pulled out the kitchen unit or
> >the other cabinets, and I really don't want to. Any suggestions for
> >a place to start to look? Maybe take out the fridge and look there
> >first? I was even thinking of pullin out the water and electrical
> >inlets and fishing around with one of those "grabbers" that are
> >about three feet long with a button on the end and the three hooks
> >that come together on the other.
> >
> >What's the best way to find a dead animal with minimal tearing apart
> >of the van?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Ed in CT


Shawn Wright
http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels
'88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
'85 Jetta Diesel 1.6NA