Never heard of the rear one having a problem but on the front the whole
circuit including switch is overloaded at high speed.  My solution is to
run a separate fused circuit for high speed, switched by a relay.  You cut
the high-speed wire from the switch and use it to supply the relay control
voltage, then use the output of the relay to drive  the other side of that
wire.  Low and medium speeds are handled well by the original circuit, high
speed now only draws milliamps for relay drive and the power comes from a
separate circuit.  Then look and see if someone didnt' put a 25 amp fuse in
the original circuit, and if so replace it with the proper 16 amp
fuse.  Should be easy to find the fuse, it's the one where the cover is
melted over it...

david

At 01:40 PM 2/25/2000 , ENYAB325@AOL.COM wrote:
>Hello:
>      Ron here from Glen Burnie Maryland.  Presently own 1987 Syncro Westy.
>1st westy but 3rd vanagon.  1984 & 1985 vanagons.  In each vehicle I`ve had
>either or both front and rear heater switches actually melt and become
>inoperable.   Is this
>something that other vanagon owners are experiencing or is it that I`m having
>a bit
>of bad luck on all three vehicles?
>      Would appreciate any suggestions you could give me.  Thanks alot Ron
>enyab325@aol.com

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"