No rheostat.  For the lower speed the current is sent thru resistors like
you see at your rear unit.  If your front blower doesn't work on high, the
fuse is likely blown; it's worth trying a replacement.  The usual reason for
the fuse to blow, however, is that the fan doesn't want to turn due to age,
corrosion, and lack of lubrication.
  Going in thru the front air intake, it is possible (not easy) to see the
fan with a very small camera and give it a push and even lubricate it. (See
my posts 235412 and 236417 of Dec 2003)
  The archives have lots of info on the front heater blower of course.  Most
people remove the dash and deal with it the "correct" way.

Larry A.

On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 7:14 AM, C B <cunegonde.van.westfalia@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I know it's just a figure of speech, but my front blower doesn't blow
> my skirt up at all. Nor does it defrost, unless Cunegonde is going
> fast enough to force air through the outside vents. The front heat
> exhanger is working fine, as is my carefully burped radiator. The rear
> underseat fan/heat exchanger would do Marilyn Monroe proud.
>
> How do I access the front dash heater blower motor rheostat? Bentley
> is reticent.
> What's the part #? Is there a better/equivalent but cheaper replacement?
> What are the other most common front blower failures?
> Will I have to demolish the dash and split the front heater case?
> Can it wait until next fall?!
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Other than having to drive from Kelso to Chehalis with no voltage
> regulator (and eventually, no battery), Cunegonde's been running
> perfectly since the waterpump and transmission were replaced last
> summer. A new alternator/regulator and battery, and off she went.
>
> Some new sensors and sparkplugs, and she's getting 18+ highway mpg. I
> imagine a full tune-up should increase that to 19-20 mpg
>
> --
> Bretts
>
> 1983 1.9l WBX Ivory Westfalia "Cunegonde"
>