I don't go near air-cooled vanagons very much,
So you may not have this, but.......
Starting in 'some year' there's a federal requirement on all vehicles that
there's a clear diagram by the heater controls showing full defrost
position.
On all watercooled vanagons, starting with 82 diesel and up, there's a
little picture-diagram, with a 'defrost icon' and it shows all levers to the
full right, and fan on # 2 position.
It makes sense that in an air-cooled vanagon they'd cut off heat to the rear
to force air to the windshield. That's how old bugs worked - it came out at
your feet, unless you closed those doors down there, making more go to the
windshield - believe that's how they worked if I recall correctly. 
   I read that long thing, and thought is was pretty right on for
watercooled vanagons. 
Scott 
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mike S
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 2:50 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: ventilators in front doors

At 05:23 PM 4/8/2008, Jack R. wrote...
>GoWesty provided the most in-depth explanation I have seen so far.
>Nothing like the "simple" German engineering of a Vanagon!

But, they have it somewhat wrong. In describing the top lever, they say
it's for defrost, and only talk about it controlling the defrost vents.
At least on an '81, it's much more complex - it also controls the
front/center foot vents and the rear cabin floor vent. I think the
defrost vents are always on, but moving the lever toward the right
progressively shuts off the heater vents, so more air is then delivered
for defrost.

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