Date:         Fri, 7 Mar 2008 13:45:33 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEWS FLASH: replace bottom flap seals without pulling heater
              and dash
Comments: To: Joe Federici <joefederici@earthlink.net>
In-Reply-To:  <A35D3870-1BCA-4AA8-BF21-C6E0F562B2C2@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

They're not broken, they're fine. I was just trying to point out that if all
you need to do is to replace the bottom flap seals, the shaft and paddles
pop right out for re-sealing. No need to pull the dash and heater plenum.
What a pain! I just got through setting my heater plenum into place.
Jim

On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 1:09 PM, Joe Federici <joefederici@earthlink.net>
wrote:

> You can still get those plastic tabs at the dealer. There is a left
> and a right, marked with a L or R. You should have a total of 4 two
> of each. On my van and the parts van one of each were broken where it
> snaps in. They were about 3.00 each at the dealer.
>
> Since you've gone this far if broken you might as well replace.
>
> JFF
>
> On Mar 7, 2008, at 12:51 PM, Jim Felder wrote:
>
> With my late-model heater/air plenum sitting on the conference table
> in my
> office, I noticed that the bottom flaps are not only removable by
> removing
> the four plastic plugs that support the shaft as it sits through the
> housing, but that it would be relatively easy to remove same with the
> heater
> in the car. I can't prove it until I put the heater in the car, but
> it would
> go like this:
> First, pull off the lower heater cover. Then get a flashlight and
> find the
> four clips that pull out. I will send anyone a close-up on request. Its
> difficult to see them, they are black plastic like the edges of the
> heater
> plenum they are contoured exactly like.
>
> Make a note of how it comes out, if you put it in backwards it won't
> seal.
> Beware that the metal paddles that form the vent closers are not
> perfectly
> flat, there is an offset on each side that will force you to guide the
> blades right between the raised plastic channels in the case. A
> mirror and a
> screwdriver and lying on your back might help. Anyway, a lot easier than
> pulling the dash.
>
> You cannot get to the upper vent flaps this way, only the ones that
> control
> hot air spilling into the cabin when they are supposed to be closed.
>
> Jim
>
>