Kevin etc.,

The switch for the rear heater can be used in place of the front heater
switch, same switch (on the '84).  Those switches seems prone to failure
so I always grab a few from the yard.  Perhaps with a repaired ground and
motor my switch won't seize every couple of months. :)

I had an air-cooled '80 a few years back, was pretty chilly at times.  On
the air-cooled Vanagons, the heater "fan" is mounted on the alternator, so
heat output is relative to engine speed.  I installed a 12v bilge fan in
my duct for better heat flow.  Still pretty minimal though and the fan was
noisy.

To increase heat output without a fan, close dash side vents, open door
slider vents, top lever far right, heat lever to the far right, lower heat
lever far left (unless you need max defrost, then far right) and bottom
lever (roof vents) far right.  This routes all incoming ram air through
the heater core and out the defrost or footwell vents as needed.

Keep in mind too that your ground may be toasty as well, contributing to
the demise of the switch and the motor.

Hope this helps,
Gregory Smith
Olympia, WA USA
'84 Vanagon

> Good heater info.
> My 84's heater switch just seized Monday while driving through the
> Great White North, er, Western PA. So, my switch is "frozen," the
> heater fan has been squealing, and I removed the leaky rear heater
> core last summer. So, is this what an air-cooled is like in winter?