The ends are crimped on and there is actually a gasket in there. It may
also be leaking where the tubes are welded to the end plate. The tubes
can also wear thin enough to become porous. One thing to consider is
that a heater core failure can become a life threatening condition. It
is inside the van and having hot coolant spraying on you can cause burns
and the sudden release of vapor can overcome you. I know this is extreme
but it has happened. This is why VW recalled many Golf-Jetta and
replaced the cores and or installed valves limiting the flow of hot
water to the core. My Fox has this valve set up. If the core is worn
enough o leak, it is really time to replace it.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of William S. Brown Jr.
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 6:42 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Heater core repair

Has anyone had any luck repairing the front heater core on a water
cooled
Vanagon?

I am seeing some small weeping between the plastic end caps and the
aluminum
core.  My guess is that there is some type of sealer between the two,
and
that is what is going.

Can the ends be removed?  What is the sealer made out of, or what could
repair it?  Sounds like UltraCopper time to me.

Advice???

William
86 Vanagon
340,000 miles and still ticking

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