No dash removal necessary. The cable runs from the lever to the
center console, and then down (below the vehicle) to the valve that
controls the heater. If the valve is bad, you have to pull the spare
tire and replace the valve from below. If the cable is bad, you have
to work in both places.

The center section is fairly easily removed (information is in the
Bentley.) Assuming a manual transmission, the center section is
pushed in a bit on each side, and then it slides out. If you have a
syncro, it's a bit more involved as you have to remove the diff lock
actuater stuff first. If you have an automatic, you might need to
pull the shifter box first.

The center section I'm referring to is the lower portion of the dash,
under the radio, where the heat comes out to your feet.

On Jan 20, 2007, at 11:09 AM, Allen Hill wrote:

> Greetings,
> My daughter called me and said that one of the heater control
> levers on her
> 1986 Vanagon was stuck in the middle (about half way over) and
> would not
> move either way.  I am assuming that the cable is bent over or
> something
> like that.  What I was wondering was how much of a job is it to  R
> & R the
> heater control from the dash and replace whatever cable is bad.
> Will the
> control unit assembly come out by itself, or do I need to go to the
> extreme
> of removing the dash assembly or other parts first?
>
> Thanks all,
>
> Route 66 Rider!
> Ramon Hill
> Live Long and Be Free