I apologize for any HTML in my last message.  It's still
early here...

My rear heater core has been giving that lovely maple syrup
smell for a while.  I had looked around in there, and didn't
see any puddles of coolant or anything, so I didn't panic.
Since I'm getting my next parts order from the States
together, I figure I had better order *if* I need it,
because really, who thinks of these things in the summer?

So I popped the cover off the heater, found a little sticky
coolant residue on the floor, but nothing major, took the
core out of the housing, let the van idle to get up to
temperature, and all that good stuff.  I don't see any
weeping or anything from the core.  There is some evidence
(crusty stuff) near the lower hose attachment and along the
edges of the core, but no real nasties.

So tell me doctor, how long do I have?  Can I live a normal
life?

Is my heater core in "a bad way" and should I replace it, or
should I just clean it up, get rid of the coolant residue on
the floor, and keep an eye on it?  I just don't really know
what one of these things will do when it's on it's last
legs.  I just know I don't want the maple syrup sauna if
this thing let's loose!

TIA
Keith Adams
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia "Roxy"