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Subject:Re: rear heater smells like syrup
From:Brent Christensen
Date:Fri, 15 Mar 2002 11:37:54 -0800

>First my when I turn on my rear heater it smells like syrup.  Anybody know
>anything about this?

You have a coolant leak.  Probably the o-ring that seals the valve assembly
or the bleeder screw.

867 819 037 SEALING WASHER
861 819 039 BLEEDER SCREW
861 819 297 GASKET

Or possibly the valve itself:
867 819 809 B HEATER VALVE

Coolant has leaked into the heat exchanger and when the air blows across it,
the smell of dried coolant syrup is blown into the van

>
>Second, when I turn on my rear AC it never gets really that cool.  But the
>strange thing is that a rubber web like material shoots out of the vents.
om

I have had success replacing the receiver/drier and recharging the system
every few year.  Make sure you have the system checked for leaks with
flouro-dye or something like that.

The material is a foam "filter" that was originally wrapped around the front
of the evaporator (part number 253 260 128 A).  It is now old and crumbly
and when you turn the AC blower on high, you get to enjoy those little bits
scattered all over the galley area.  You can either live with it (it will
eventually get better) or go through the (very painful) process of dropping
the overhead unit and removing the material.  Not worth the trouble, IMO.

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA

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