Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:32:26 -0500
Reply-To: Mike B <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike B <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Heater flap foam replacement detail
In-Reply-To: <50C6916B.5080007@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
My mileage does vary. In the summer I put cold drinks in my
original-style cupholders mounted on both sides of my automatic shift
console. The heater leaks enough heated air in the summer to warm up my
ice cold drinks in minutes. Not to mention, leaking heat into my
already-hot interior. (I don't have A/C). I want to fix my flaps with
new seals so at least this won't happen, but the rest is fine. I've
never had a Vanagon dash out (yet), so I don't look forward to the job....
Mike B,
On 12/10/2012 8:50 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
> Dennis Haynes writes to say "Actually for heat you need to let some
> outside air in. All the heated air comes from outside. Usually the foam
> is replaced to stop of the whistling noises when closing all the vents
> is attempted."
>
> I took the heater box out this spring and serviced it. The old foam
> seals had crumbled like a sandcastle at high tide, like marzipan in a
> hot tub.
>
> But I didn't replace them. During warm weather, there's little need to
> close the flaps, and during winter I only close them while waiting for
> the engine to warm sufficiently to provide hot water to the heater core.
> This takes, what? five minutes?
>
> I have not heard any whistling w/o the foam bits while driving during
> the initial warm-up period, nor a cold draft.
>
> I'm not disappointed that I chose not to put in new foam, because it
> looked like a real PITA -- and lemme tell ya', it was a risky decision
> considering how difficult it is to get that darn heater box out. But we
> (me and my son) studied the flaps, flipped them about, discussed it,
> drank a glass of wine or two (me) or PBR (my son), looked at how tightly
> the flaps closed with no foam, and -- taking the lazy man's way out --
> decided to to take a pass on the foam replacement step.
>
> It's worked out fine.
>
> I can't think of many situations where I'd want the flaps to stay closed
> for any length of time and when a bit of air getting through would be
> troublesome. In warm weather I like a breeze, in cold I wait for the
> core to heat then open them, and any leakage isn't a bother.
>
> Me, I'd say skip that fussy bit. Replace the heater core and the blower
> motor, lube what needs lubing, blow things out -- and be done with it.
>
> But, as they say: YMMV.
>
> Jack out.
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
>
> On 12/10/2012 05:03 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>> Actually for heat you need to let some outside air in. All the heated
>> air
>> comes from outside. Usually the foam is replaced to stop of the
>> whistling
>> noises when closing all the vents is attempted. If you think about
>> things
>> you never really don't want to stop all outside air, even when using
>> the AC.
>> You have to have some fresh air and O2 coming in.
>>
>> Dennis
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