In a message dated 10/12/2004 7:01:13 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

I have  one of those factory stock heater that are on
the left side of the engine  comparmnet and has the
digital read out and display up front.  follow?
(eberspacher??) It is a gasoline coolant  heater.

Matthew, it's a WEBASTO BBW 46 gasoline fired  coolant heater.  There is also
a WEBASTO DBW 46 which is Diesel  fuel fired.  I thought these were only
available on Syncros sold in  Canada.  You must have a Canadian spec Syncro if my
information is  correct.  I have the factory workshop manual for this heater.
I  obtained it from a local VW dealership that went out of business.  NOT for
 sale but could be tempted to make photo copies but it's 82 pages including
the  covers and a separate two sheet wiring diagram.  The manual is in five
languages, German, English, French, Spanish, & Dutch.  From your  description it
sounds as if your heater is working.  The white smoke coming  from the small
exhaust is evidence of that.  It will not take long to heat  up the coolant.
The unit is an energy hog and will kill the battery in  short order if used as
a means to heat the van while camping.  It was meat  to be used to start
vehicles in extremely cold climates -> CANADA  !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com