not sure if anyone has said this already, but it sounds like you have a rear
heater core leak. it COULD be the plastic "T", which sometimes breaks, but
more than likely it's the core. i just replaced mine and the "butterscotch"
smell is now gone. have you checked for coolant under the rear heater or
coagulating on the fins of the heater itself? i bet if you look under your
heater under the mat and carpet you'll find some coolant. if not, you've
caught it early. the core i just purchased from my local vw parts place was
around $90 with tax. but, i'm sure someone online has one cheaper. the
replacement is super easy.

last thought; if you don't need the heat(er) you can remove the whole unit
and create a "U" out of heater hose thus bypassing the problem.

hope that helps out some

t

Tony DeMille
Creative Director/VW lover
Candesa Interactive
251 River Park Dr.
Provo, Utah 84604

> ----------
> From:         Rico Sapolich
> Reply To:     JKrevnov@AOL.COM
> Sent:         Tuesday, October 10, 2000 8:40 AM
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      Re: Maple Syrup?
>
> In a message dated 10/10/00 10:56:24 AM, JSchaper@SCHSA.ORG writes:
>
> << I can't discern any leaks.  Yet when I  turned the rear
> heater on this morning, there is still the smell of maple syrup.  >>
>
> John,
>
> A sad fact of life is that everytime I have smelled that sweet aroma in a
> Vanagon, I have also found a leak . . . somewhere.
>
> Rich
>
>