This is not hard if you use a blade from a hacksaw and cut away that small
strip plastic that goes under the vent where the heat come out.  The cover
for the heater core frames around this vent, but if you make two small cuts,
one on either side of the vent, you should be able to cut away the piece of
plastic that frames around the bottom of the vent.  Then you can pull the
housing off straight up and get in to replace the core.  Doing it this way
is quick and easy.  Doing it the way VW designed it requires you to remove
the rear seat totally which is not only a pain, and time consuming but also
not necessary.  No one will ever notice that you cut away that one small
piece of plastic (it is right at floor level and can't be seen) and if you
ever need to get to the core again for some reason you will be so glad you
did it this way.  I have the cores in stock for $70 and the o-rings in stock
too.  Just FYI.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
Phone: (856)-327-4936
Fax: (856)-327-2242

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of John Lunetta
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 10:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: rear heater

Hi, does anyone on the list know how to get to the hoses in and around the
rear heater core under the rear bench of a 1990 vanagon gl? and has anyone
replaced the rear heater core?
Any insight would help. John 90 vanagon gl