On my 81 vanagon I dealt with that problem in winter months by taking off
the grill and  clamping a piece of approximately trimmed cardboard over the
entrance to the main air vent, simply holding it in place by replacing the
grill. That greatly reduced the leaks, but a bit o' breeze seems
unavoidable.  A cozy blanket for the lower half of the 'shotgun' riding
partner usually helps prevent an emotional cold front - and that's worse
than a weather-related one. ...  And maybe this problem is why Ugs were
invented...

Happy Holiday Cheer and stay warm!

Peter Lackner
Santa Barbara
90 Syncro

> From: TJ Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
> Reply-To: TJ Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
> Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 10:43:08 -0800
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Cold air always
>
> All the air that comes out of the heater, defrosters and dash vents is outside
> air, the Vanagons airbox has no recirculation capablility. There is no vent
> that will directly close off the outside air; it would be nice if there was,
> the air conditioning would work a lot better, especially in Campers.
>
> Theoretically, if you position all the levers a certain way (top two fully
> left, bottom two fully right)and close the vents on the front of the dash, no
> outside air should enter the vehicle through the ventilation system, but the
> foam seals on the flaps tend to deteriorate and allow outside air into the
> van.
>
> I've been trying to make a damper that will close off the flow of outside air
> that I could install inside the airbox and control from the dash, but haven't
> come up with anything that has worked so far. For now I block the defroster
> ducts and heater ducts with foam rubber plugs during most of the year. When I
> need heat, I pop the heater duct cover off and pull the plugs out of the
> heater ducts. For defrosting (defogging here in Florida) the windshield, I use
> the air conditioning for a couple of seconds.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Tim
>
>
> Warren Chapman <vwsyncroguy@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> I live in CA where it rarely gets really cold but.........
>
> I always get cool or cold air coming through my heater duct...even when I
> have everthing in the "off" position. Normally not a problem but Not what
> I usually want during winter. whenever I do want heat....it seems my heater
> has to "overcome" the cool air to deliver any heat..
>
> Seems that the heater box should have a "flap" that closes off the fresh
> air vent.... ?? But I have two vans and both seem to get the cool air
> flow....regardless of the position of the dash controls.
>
> Are my fresh air controls defective? On both vans....or is this more "VW
> engineering"....I don't understand.
>
> Warren
>
>
> TJ Hannink
> Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
> 1981 Bluebird Wanderlodge, FC-33
> Winter Park, Florida
> http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wanderlodge
> FAVOR website:  http://home.earthlink.net/~clubvanagon
>
> ---------------------------------
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