Those plastic vents are part of the 'flow-through' ventilation system. All
cars have had some variation for years. If you put your hand along the rear
edge of the inside part of the plastic, you will feel the inside openings
and the foam inside. Pre-'86 Vanagons had the air exiting through vents at
the lower rear edge of the front doors. The vents are still there, but if
you look inside you will see that they are sealed.
Jerry
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rico Sapolich" <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 7:39 AM
Subject: Re: ? Rear Plastic Vent ?

> Another window question.  Does anyone know if the plastic vents mounted on
> the trailing ends of the rear side glass of '86 and newer vans serve any
> noticeable purpose?  My older Vanagons didn't have them and as far as I
can
> tell the only thing they are good for is to leak a little bit of water
during
> an intense downpour.  If they are not there to better my wretched life,
I'm
> going to replace them with one piece side windows so that there is less of
a
> C-pillar to block my view.
>
> Rich