OK... I vote for George Chapman's explanation about the rear vents "allowing a slight release of pressure within the vehicle when swinging the door closed." With that foam insert in there, they sure can't do much else. But I really wrote because in reading the postings on this topic, I think there's some confusion about "rear vents"- I don't think you all are discussing the same vents... Those with older WC and air-cooled vans have one set of vents which connect the engine compartment to the outside world. When people refer to the vents "vital for engine cooling" or "left-overs from air-cooled" engines, these are the ones they are speaking of. The opening faces the front of the vehicle and based on it's form would seem to be intended to scoop air into the vehicle when moving. On newer WC Vanagons - I don't know the cut-off year exactly - perhaps '87 or '88 (? I say that because there's a syncro locally w/o the vents, and syncro's started in '86, right?) - there is a second set of "rear vents" - these are actually in the window frame (the rear windows shorter on these models) - in front of the "engine vents". They are stuffed with dust-filter-type foam and connect the interior of the vehicle to the outside world. The openings on these vents face the rear of the vehicle, so it would seem that these are not for scooping air into the vehicle, but for extracting it. Except when driving in reverse, of course. So... Older Vanagon = 1 set of "rear engine vents", full length rear window Newer Vanagon = 1 set of "rear engine vents", 1 set of "rear interior vents", shorter rear window Doug Fitz-Randolph Yarmouth, ME dfrandolph@talkam.net '90 Syncro |
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