Date:         Sat, 15 May 2010 08:32:34 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Rear under seat heater problem
Comments: To: parillamilt@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <8CCC1F3C20BDECE-1454-10EE@Webmail-d124.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- Milt Schullian <parillamilt@AOL.COM> wrote:
> I'm taking apart the rear half of my van to sound deaden all the unsupported sheetmetal. Took the rear seat out and thought I'd better check the rear heater. Folded the carpet back and removed the heavy duty floor mat around the heater. I noticed that the screws holding down the heater cover on the leftside had a white fuzzy rust on them. There was also a gooey, watery substance on the bare floor (not a lot). A wipe with a paper towel showed it to be blue/green. The hose clamp to the bottom of the heater had the same white fuzzy stuff. I figure this was a tiny leak over a long period of time.
>
> What should I be checking? Is it a sign that it's going to fail? Is a hose replacement a pain in the a$$, or can I delete the heater all together? I use it only once or twice a year if that.  I'm just wondering what my options are.----Milt

Milt, might be a hose leak, might be a valve leak (I had that, common I understand), might be a core leak.  Hose leak, if you want to bother, is easiest to remedy, with new heater hose and clamps. Cheap to do.   Hose comes from under the van, of course, where there is a T-connection.  If it's the heater itself leaking, then that will be another problem, which costs considerable $$$.  You'll either have to buy a new heater (available from online vendors), find a good used one (not likely), or repair the old one (lots of time, and maybe money if you go to a radiator shop).

Eliminating the heater is easy, too.  It comes right out.  If you do this, you will have electrical wires and connectors still in place.  I protected mine by cutting a piece of plywood to fit the space, and fitting it over them.  Some folks bypass the hoses under the seat (connect one to the other with a connector).  Better is to go under the van, and replace the T-connectors for both the delivery and return hoses.  You can use straight connectors, or do like I did -- just run continuous hose from rear to front, no connectors.  You'll be left with two holes in the metal bulkhead.  I filled them with "Sportsman's Goo" on mine.  It made a solid plug, but if I ever need to, I can remove it easily.   If you or a successor ever wants to reinstall the heater, the hoses can be cut, and T-connectors put back in.

I am very pleased to have the extra room for hauling stuff.  I have driven with passengers in winter, and they didn't complain of cold.  Of course, most of the folks I run with understand the difference between winter and summer, and dress accordingly.

--
David McNeely