Hi Miguel,
    I have had an 86 heater apart (replaced a squeaky motor)  I think it is
the same as the 83.5 with a change taking place in the 87 models. There is
no logical reason why the defrost is not hot like the foot wells. The heater
flaps just open to let air out which ever way you choose.  With the heat
gauge indicating normal the thermostat seems to be doing its thing.
    You must have a front heater coolant flow problem. Try this, be sure the
front shut off valve is fully open and the rear heater is fully closed.  If
the rear heater has been bypassed stop the flow there by pinching off the
rear hose with a pair of long nosed vise grips with hose over the jaws. Look
for kinks in the heater hoses. Check to see that both heater hoses feel very
hot.
Darrell Boehler

----- Original Message -----
From: Sharon & Miguel Calvin <mcalvin@ICAN.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2000 7:03 AM
Subject: Cold defrost/warm heat 1.9wbx

> On a long highway run last night the heating system behaved strangely.  It
> was very cold outside, -20c or about -4f, and very windy.  The van never
> got very warm even with the heat and defrost levers in the fully open
> positions and the fan at max.  There was heat but not enough.  when we
> stopped for donuts I noticed that as soon as we got off the highway the
air
> coming from the defrost vents started to cool down while the air from the
> footwell vents remained warm.  After being stopped for a few minutes with
> the engine idleing the defrost air was cold and the footwell air remained
> warmbut not hot.  The temp guage stayed in its usual position over the LED
> throughout the drive and the ten minutes spent stopped.  Anyone know what
> is going on here?
> TIA
>
> Miguel Calvin               ==+=========
> mcalvin@ican.net           /[ ][  ][  ]}|
> Guelph, Ontario, Canada   |  _       _  |
> 83.5 Westy, "Frieden"     =-'O`-----'O`-= ~~
> 1.9l H2O and manual trans
>