Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 16:32:55 -0500
Reply-To: Darren Lastfogel <vr6vanagon@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Darren Lastfogel <vr6vanagon@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Front Heater Fan Just stopped working last week,
Any ideas? Need some parts....
In-Reply-To: <475AFBD5.6080503@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
I don't have A/C but the two vans I parted had melted components in the A/C circuits.
Darren > Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 15:17:25 -0500> From: collum@VERIZON.NET> Subject: Re: Front Heater Fan Just stopped working last week, Any ideas? Need some parts....> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > You just reminded me of something else I want to do on my '85 Westy,> Darren, and that's put relays in the air conditioning circuits to save> the switch. Those switches run notoriously hot and aren't all that> inexpensive.> > Thanks,> > Mike> > > > Darren Lastfogel wrote:> > I have seen and heard of this problem so many times in the past so the last time it happened to me. I decided to look into this problem a little further. here is what I discovered, the fuse for the blower is 25 amps but this also covers the rear defroster so unless both are on at the same time it is set way to high to cover the blower effectively. Meaning the weakest link will melt down, typically this is the switch but if the switch is new it might be a resistor if it was set for speed 1 or 2, if it was set to speed 3 most likly the windings in the motor will melt down, and anyone that has had to remove the dash knows how much a pain it is. So this brings me to how I solved it. I wired up a 3 speed relay kit that redirects the current throughs the relays and has a seperate fuse for just the fan (I believe a new fan draws about 8 amps older fans about 10 amps) I use a 15 amp fuse this will cover the start up current draw. 10 amp fuse will work on a fan system that is in pe> rfect working order. I am selling it on thesamba.com or if you are electrically proficient you could make your own.> > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=531608> > this has solved all issues I had and now if my fan siezes the fuse will pop quickly and save the windings or switch from meltdown.> >> > Darren> >> >> Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 08:52:21 -0800> From: gfs@SCATTERCREEK.COM> Subject: Re: Front Heater Fan Just stopped working last week, Any ideas? Need some parts....> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Kevin etc.,> > The switch for the rear heater can be used in place of the front heater> switch, same switch (on the '84). Those switches seems prone to failure> so I always grab a few from the yard. Perhaps with a repaired ground and> motor my switch won't seize every couple of months. :)> > I had an air-cooled '80 a few years back, was pretty chilly at times. On> the air-cooled Vanagons, the heater "fan" is mounted on the alternator, so> heat output is relative to engine speed. I installed a 12v bilge fan in> my duct for better heat flow. Still pretty minimal though and the fan was> noisy.> > To increase heat output without a fan, close dash side vents, open door> slider vents, top lever far right, heat lever to the far right, lower heat> lever far left (unless you need max defrost> , then far right) and bottom> lever (roof vents) far right. This routes all incoming ram air through> the heater core and out the defrost or footwell vents as needed.> > Keep in mind too that your ground may be toasty as well, contributing to> the demise of the switch and the motor.> > Hope this helps,> Gregory Smith> Olympia, WA USA> '84 Vanagon> > > Good heater info.> > My 84's heater switch just seized Monday while driving through the> > Great White North, er, Western PA. So, my switch is "frozen," the> > heater fan has been squealing, and I removed the leaky rear heater> > core last summer. So, is this what an air-cooled is like in winter?> > _________________________________________________________________> > Put your friends on the big screen with Windows Vista® + Windows Live™.> > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/shop/specialoffers.mspx?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_CPC_MediaCtr_bigscreen_102007
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