Geez, quit bein' such an unimaginative slacker, Larry. Why didn't you just
whip up some metal-particle eating / lube excreting nanobots to ride in on
the air flow and infect the thing? I mean, c'mon now.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Alofs" <lalofs@RCN.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: Heater dying

>I think it was about a year ago when the front fan on my '91 GL started
> squeaking worse and worse.  Finally it would run only on the highest
> setting and finally blew the fuse.  I took a very small video camera
> connected to a video monitor and attached it to a stiff wire bent in a
> complex shape.  By feeding it in thru the front air intake I was able to
> see the end of the heater fan motor and shaft end bearing..  I was able
> to apply Tri-Flow lubricant thru a long tube by attaching the end of the
> tube to another piece of bent wire.  I then used the wire to push on the
> squirrel cage to get it broken loose, allowing it to start to turn again
> when I turned on the switch.  As the lube worked its way into the
> bearing, the fan gained speed and the squeaking eventually stopped.  I
> also dabbed a little grease on the end of the shaft to keep moisture out
> and provide some future lubrication.  The fan has been fine ever since.
>  When I reported this on the list, most people thought I was crazy, but
> I really didn't want to pull the dash if I could avoid it; so far so good.
> You might be able to find my posts about it, if you search for my name
> and video camera and heater fan.
>  Harbor Freight sells a b&w security camera which works OK if you
> shorten the focal length a little by taping a small plastic magnifying
> glass across the lens.
> It has built in IR LEDs for illumination which means you don't have to
> manipulate a light in there too.  This camera is on sale most of the
> time for $29.95.
>
> Larry A.
>
>
> Jon Brown wrote:
>
>>This weekend the 25A fuse blew (6 months ago the dash switch melted, then
>>a
>>new switch fixed it for a while).   I replaced the fuse and the fan made
>>some noise, spun for a momment...  then sputtered so I turned it off.  I
>>tried again a few hours later when it wasn't well below freezing outside
>>and
>>again it sputtered and shortly there after died again (blew fuse again).
>>
>>Is their hope in "fixing it" simply, or is the only option removing the
>>dash
>>and replacing the whole thing?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Jon
>>
>>
>>