I have the same problem....

I went to the dealer to discuss it - and they suggested an O-ring is the
possible problem. It cost about $3.00 - pretty expensive for a rubber band!

The dealer said that it is a common failure - and many heater cores are
replaced or ordered, when it's just the O-ring having failed.

Anyhow - I haven't installed it yet. It goes between the valve and the
remainder of the unit, or something like that.

Anyhow - I am going to try this before I try replacing the core.

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy

>list,
>
>i'm having a serious coolant leak coming from my rear (under bench) heater
>in my '90 vanagon. (by serious i mean it has soaked my padding and carpet
>twice all the way up to the behind the front seats) i need to know what to
>do.
>
>i've removed the outermost housing and have discovered coolant build-up
>around the bottom of the fins on the radiator unit. it appears to be
leaking
>around there and coming out of the seam of bottom of the housing
surrounding
>that core unit. (i should note here that the hoses and other usual leak
>areas appear to be fine) does this mean that the radiator unit is shot? is
>there a "stop leak" type fix? should i create some kind of "U" joint for
the
>hoses to bypass the heater unit and take it out until i can repair or
>replace it? and if i make the "U" joint, does disconnecting the heater mean
>i have to bleed the system after i'm done because i've let air in?
>basically, what is the best thing to do?
>
>this problem has gotten continually worsened to the point that my coolant
>sensor light comes on.
>
>any information on this subject will be immensly appreciated.
>
>p.s. for those of you that care, i was on this list for a year or two until
>last year. remember, my '87 caught on fire in the taco bell parking lot?
>it's nice to be back. i've missed the list. i hope all is well in v-land
>
>thank you in advance.
>
>Tony
>'90 GL
>