Top lever operates the flap for the top/defroster ducts.  Below that is the
temperature control.  Below that is the lever that operates lower/foot air
flap.  The bottom lever operates the air flap to the rear compartment.  The
two vents at the ends of the dash have levers beside them to open the air
flow.  Some vans have fresh air vents at the rear of the side doors, as does
mine.  The levers on the dash are marked by a tapering line.  The wider end
of the line means more air flow.  Note that the heated air does not come out
all vents.  In my '85 only the defroster and the foot vents put out heated
air.  The side air vents and the rear compartment vents are fresh-air only.
Some newer vans will heat air coming out of the side vents as well.

The system appears to be about flexibility.  You can select the amount of
fresh air to each portion of the vehicle, or completely close them off.  Use
your imagination to select whatever combination of air flow your heart
desires.  Close them all off completely for summer A/C operation.

Good luck!

Chris.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Brady Ferguson
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 3:11 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Ventilation Controls

I feel rather stupid, but I've had my vanagon now for 4 months, and I'm
still pretty perplexed to the ventilation controls and how to work them.  I
have a 1987 Vanagon GL, with AC.  There's two knobs on the ceiling with a
set of vents and the system goes down the center to the back, I assume
that's the A/C since it has the little snowflake on one of the knobs.

The controls on the dash are what confuse me....  there's four levers, two
knobs (fan control), and that's about all I can decipher.  Anyone have
"ventilation 101" FAQ or anything????

Thanks
Brady