You need to pull the heater core and check for both internal and
external restrictions. The inside can get gummed up and the outside
tends to collect road dirt reducing its effectiveness. All air that goes
through the heater is outside air. During cold weather, avoid the
temptation to put the fan on high. High speed means more cold air that
needs to be heated. Note the legend for the fan has the number 2 along
with the lever positions for max defrost. Also, not opening the valve
for the rear heater fully will allow more coolant to flow to the front.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Vanagon Man
Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2004 10:15 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Front heater Blues...88 Vanagon

Volks,

Here is the situation.  My front heater in my WBX has never been worth a
hoot.  Last weekend, I replaced the foam seals to cure a cold air leak
in
the front of the van, and at the same time replaced my burned up fan
motor.

Well, I cured the cold air leak, and the fan works absolutely great.
But,
still the heat is tepid at best.  The rear heater just blows totally hot
air.  I looked yesterday at the valve that controls the coolant flow to
this
heater core, and when the lever on the dash is pushed to the right, it
is
all the way open....so it seems flow is not restricted.

Any ideas? This is one of those quirky things this van has always had
wrong
with it.  I want to cure it before next winter!!!

Adam P
Charleston,SC     Coburn, WV
81  Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1976 Transporter (New CA bus)
1974 412 "Goldmember"
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)