I've got to believe the failure of these rear heater cores is due to the
fact that people valve them off for most of the year and they just corrode.
I would suggest you leave the valve at least partially open all tear round.

                                                        Jay

mike and shari <mjgarske@HOME.COM> on 03/20/2001 01:43:56 AM

Please respond to mike and shari <mjgarske@HOME.COM>

To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
cc:    (bcc: Jay L Snyder/AE/DuPont)
Subject:  Was :Damaged cooling pipe( now: rear heater core)

One thing that I did on a Wolfsburg GL I owned a couple of years back when
the rear heater core started leaking:  1. I took the ruined core to a local
parts chain and had the guy show me various cores that were similarly
shaped, 2. bought a good one and 3. hooked my heater hoses up to it, 4. I
carefully dismantled the old set up and preserved the fan.  5. On the inlet
hose I spliced in a shut off valve, this worked perfectly and my new heater
core was fully functional and totally one piece of metal instead of the VW
metal and plastic horror show.
I plan to do this on my syncro when or possibly before it's rear core goes
out.  I personally find the rear heater marvelous during the winter.

Mike Garske
Scott D Foss wrote:
>
>
> re rear heater,
> don't know if you are the guy who says he has a NEW rear heater, but my
> recomendation is to always disconnect the rear heater - they just rot
> out.
>
> the only thing that can be done to keep them from corroding and leaking
> is to keep them on about 30 % all year so fresh coolant circulates.
>
> I have occasionally run into a situation where you just CAN NOT get the
> right part, even tho you have a stock US model.   Mistakes get made, and
> parts people can only go with the numbers and pictures they have,
> and if it's not in the price sheet, well, it doesn't exist.
>
>   good luck,  hope that helps a little, scott