I think there's some confusion going on here between two different systems --

System #1 is the fresh air ventilation to the main cabin overhead vents, 
controlled by the bottom lever on the heater system.  This air is ducted 
from the front door pillars through the doors themselves, into the rear 
door pillars and thence up to the overhead vents.  In the case of the 
Westy, there are no vents on the left side, and the system has been 
disabled by placing a plastic cover over the opening in the left side door 
front pillar.

System #2 is the ventilation outlet for the entire vehicle, which except in 
late models is accomplished through a grilled vent located at the bottom 
rear of both front doors.  The vent has a blue plastic knob which opens the 
vent when slid forward, and closes it when slid aft.  This is the same 
whether Westy or not.  On late models where the actual function was removed 
to the trailing edge of the rear side windows, I understand that the grill 
still exists on the doors, but that there is no slider and the internal 
opening has been covered over.

It seems to me that people have been talking at cross purposes about this 
for some days now, and when someone else explained this same distinction 
recently, no-one seems to have noticed.

hope this helps
david

At 18:22 5/8/2000, Michael J. Sullivan wrote:
>Dear Eric,
>
>I'm pretty sure it is the same part -- the ones I have seen simply do not
>have the slider and the opening (in the door behind the vent) is "taped up"
>with black tape.
>
>Cheers,
>MJS
>
>At 01:27 PM 5/8/00 -0400, Giroux, Eric wrote:
> >Hi,
> >
> >> The other air duct leads from your ventilation system, starting at the
> >> front grill, traveling through your fan box, to the front door jamb,
> >> through the door, it leads to the door pillar at the rear of
> >> the door. From
> >> there, the air moves to the overhead vents in the cargo area on the
> >> driver's  side of the van.
> >>
> >> If you have the plastic cover, you must may have a Westfalia, on which
> >> there are no vents on the driver's side cargo area, but
> >> instead a package
> >> tray.
> >
> >
> >Could somebody please get me the part number for this driver's side cover ?
> >It must be written on the part itself.   My dealer does not find it in his
> >listing.  He only has a number for the non-camper part (with openings).
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >�ric
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From:   Zoran Mladen [SMTP:Zoran_Mladen@AMSINC.COM]
> >> Sent:   Wednesday, May 03, 2000 10:14 AM
> >> To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject:        venting question
> >>
> >> Hi All!
> >>
> >> With all the mail pertaining to venting, I thought I would
> >> add my question.
> >>
> >> I have an 84 GL.  There are the vents in each door, which I
> >> understand are
> >> supposed to suck air out of the van.  In the front door jam,
> >> there is the
> >> opening that leads to the door.  My van came with what looks
> >> like stock
> >> plastic
> >> covers for the vent on the body side, not the door.  If I put
> >> these on,
> >> what is
> >> the effect?  With them on, I still feel air being sucked out
> >> through the
> >> vent on
> >> the rear of the door...
> >>
> >> Help!
> >>
> >> Z
> >>
> >
>Michael J. Sullivan
>Marshfield Hills, MA
>Central America 2001 or bust!
>
>'87 VW Vanagon GL Syncro Westfalia "Sunny" (soon to be TDi-powered)
>'86 VW Syncro Doublecab "Claude"
>'96 VW Passat TDi "Teddi" (46mpg)
>
>*********************************************
>work:       http://www.openmarket.com
>my vanagon: http://www.hsdesign.com/vanagon
>scan tips:  http://www.hsdesign.com/scanning
>*********************************************

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