Date:         Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:29:32 -0500
Reply-To:     Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Minimal Heat (2.1)
Comments: To: Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <c803c1a70901160654y2b048d6agd9a58379cf53c563@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Jeff Lincoln wrote:
> Ok, I have next to no heat in my bus. I've never had this issue before. My
> mind says it could be a stuck or dead thermostat. However, it has also been
> like -6 to -12 her all week so I have also considered it could just be too
> damn cold out :)


I spent 9 winters driving my Vanagons in northern Maine, where
temperatures were sometimes -30ºF, and had plenty of heat ... after
replacing a bad thermostat on one of them.  When I had the bad
thermostat, the temperature gauge would hardly move off the cold mark.

First, crawl under and look up at the heater valve and make sure the
cable is functioning so that it opens that valve all the way.

As to losing tiny amounts of coolant, with no external indication, it's
possible that your automatic transmission oil cooler has an internal
leak.  Check your transmission fluid.

Mike