Date:         Sun, 2 Dec 2007 18:27:18 +0000
Reply-To:     Vdub Guy <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Vdub Guy <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Aux Heater-Do I Feel Stupid!

OK, '84 Vanagon Westy, I've owned for a little over a year. Granted, first few months were spent dealing with the seized engine. I've owned one other '84 Vanagon Westy, I was the 6th owner and it was pretty hacked up. Back in the spring I replaced the fuel filter, found it pretty much fully clogged. It's been running a little off lately, so I decided to swap out the fuel filter again, figuring it might have more gunk in it. Dropped the belly pan (now my last '84 didn't have a belly pan, but again, I was the 6th owner-when I found this one had a pan, I didn't give it much thought, figured a PO had tossed it on the old '84 because it is a PITA to remove/install). Today, however, I look over and...WTF... what is this big muffler looking thing here? By God, that looks like an auxillary heater!!!!! I guess back in the spring I just didn't give it much thought. Yeah, I noticed that little green "Temp" knob to the right of the steering column, but I figured that was temp for the regular h
eat. My joy was short lived, however, as it is a NON-functioning auxillary heater. Got out the owners manual and found the section on Aux. heater. When I puch the knob in and turn it to the right I hear some clicking and the timer running. Knob does not light up as it should. Manual mentions two fuses, a 16 amp and an 8 amp located behind the glovebox- I removed the glovebox and cannot locate them. Can anyone familar with auxillary heaters shed some light on where these fuses are? One time I turned the heater on with the engine running, and the engine died immediately. I can't believe I've owned this thing for a year and never noticed this before!    Jeff

PS- Sorry if this seems a bit poorly written, I delivered a '62 Splittie yesterday for a friend, and I think I'm suffering a bit from carbon monoxide poisoning. It's been MANY years since I drove a Splittie, and after yesterday don't know if I ever want to again. It didn't make it the 175 miles, last 25 were on a flatbed tow truck...but thats another story.