Maybe true on a Westy but NOT true on a regular
vanagon with the 3 passenger backseat/bed.  Country
Homes didn't use their own bed when a vanagon was
already equipped with a full width bed.  Maybe there's
a trick I don't know about but as far as I can tell
the horizontal bar spanning the width of the seat
behind the wooden panel prevents you from removing the
heater cowling.

Graham

--- Mark McCulley <transporter99@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Note that this only applies to Country Homes
> conversions. You don't have
> remove the kickboard or the bed to remove the heater
> on a Westfalia.
>
> MM
>
> >From: Graham Challis <centumg@YAHOO.COM>
> >
> >When you go to take the heater box off, if you're
> not
> >averse to a bit of non-visible mutilation, then
> after
> >you take the wood kick board off, cut out the
> heater
> >box at the bottom where it goes under the heater
> unit
> >(it'll be obvious what to do once you take the
> board
> >off) - that way you can easily get the surround off
> >without having to disassemble the bed.  When you
> put
> >the new core in and reassemble everything you won't
> >even notice the bit that's missing.  The box is
> some
> >sort of fibreglass so it's easy to cut.
> >
> >There's a msg. in the archives about this that I
> >posted a while back - I had exactly the same
> symptoms
> >as you describe, plus earlier I'd replaced the
> valve
> >without doing the little mod. to the surround - the
> >second time I started to unbolt the bed I thought:
> >"why am I doing this again - this is stupid!".
> >
> >Graham
> >90 GL auto Country Homes Camper
> >
> >--- Jim & Melody <JiMelody@ZIANET.COM> wrote:
> > > HK,
> > > Order another heater core.  We enjoyed the sweet
> > > maple syrup smell in our 91
> > > for 3.5  years.  Actually thought someone had
> > > spilled syrup near the heater.
> > > Over the weekend we went up to the mountains in
> the
> > > snow and as I sat next
> > > to the van enjoying some hot chocolate I noticed
> > > coolant in the sliding tray
> > > at the bottom of the side door.  hmmm.  I too
> > > evaluated the situation with
> > > the heater hot and running, nary a leak
> (obviously
> > > knew it was leaking but
> > > trying to pinpoint locations).  Quit for the
> night
> > > and had a nice puddle in
> > > the morning.  Pulled the heater core out and
> sure
> > > enough, the bottom 1/4
> > > inch was blue from a longstanding leak which
> > > evidently just increased.  I'll
> > > bet yours is similar and the fan evaporates the
> > > little coolant which drips
> > > into the core tray.  You never know when it will
> get
> > > worse so better to
> > > replace when you can.  BD has mine on the way.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Jim
> > > 91 Syncro AW
> > > 99 NB TDI
> > > Alamogordo NM
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Horace K. Sawyer
> <firestream@MINDSPRING.COM>
> > > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2000 7:34 PM
> > > Subject: Re: 91 Westy rear heater core smell -
> no
> > > leak!
> > >
> > >
> > > > Very strong sickly sweet odor of hot coolant.
> I
> > > examined the heater box
> > > > unit, and open/close valve with the engine
> warm
> > > and running.  No evidence
> > > > of a leak visible.  I read some posts about
> the
> > > open/close valve being
> > > > prone to leak, but not the sign of the
> slightest
> > > drip.
> > > >
> > > > I did not rip open the heater box to examine
> the
> > > heater core.  Still no
> > > > sign of leaking underneath.  So where is it
> coming
> > > from?  It definitely is
> > > > emanating from the rear heater.  My nose
> knows. :
> > > )
> > > >
> > > > This smell is driving me batty (more so than I
> > > already am, so they say).
> > > > Hope this odor is not DANGERous!  We have an
> 11
> > > month baby girl who loves
> > > > to ride in the "Edelweiss."
> > > >
> > > > Should I go ahead and order another heater
> core?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance
> > > > HK
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
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