Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 10:56:35 -0800
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Blower Fan troubles
In-Reply-To: <D0696BD1-FE6D-4A64-B71F-5F72CEBA75AE@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
On Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 6:25 AM, Cecil Eastman <ckelmo1@comcast.net> wrote:
> O Esteemed Listees,
>
> The bus's blower fan has become a better noisemaker than an instrument with which to move around warm air. So now I've got to get inside the heater box and either repair it (probably not possible) or replace it (more likely).
>
> 1. What's the best way to access the heater box? According to the Bentley's, which is lacking detail on this issue, I've got to crack open the heater box. How much of the dashboard do I need to remove to get to the box?
> 2. Bentley's says that once the box is opened by breaking the welds I'll need some clips to re-seal the box. My FLAPS has no such article in stock. Anyone know of a supplier or a good substitute method of re-sealing the box?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Cecil
> '85 Westy "Der Brotkasten"
At one point I had posted a video showing an over view of this job.
One of these days I'll get around to re editing it and post it
somewhere. (no not on youtube thanks!)
It's been covered in the archives, but basically you have to remove
the dash and crack open the heater box to get at the fan motor.
Of note, it seems now that the resistor pack for the fan motor, that
lives in the heater box, is NLA. Some vendors may have NOS.
I ended up mounting my resistor pack outside the box up by the rad.
(for future servicing. Reasoning being that the fan motor was new,
resistor original AFAIK) Not sure how wise this is, but works fine and
will be easy to get at if/when it fails.
I have read of people suggesting that a resistor pack from other makes
of vehicles could be used. I don't know. All I know is that I'm glad
mine is easier to get at.
Don't forget the 4 screws (2 per end) "hidden" by the front doors.
Be careful lifting dash off. You don't want to hit the master cylinder
reservoir.
Allow time for getting the heater box open. There may be some kind of
glue on it, and in the grooves, that will take time to clean up. I
resealed mine on the outside face only. NOT in the grooves themselves.
Neil.
--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines