If that spare tire unlatches in flight .......
You are going to get a REAL SURPRISE !!!

It's a bit of an odd thread.
VW has a habit of using one common 12 mm thread for most applications - like
diesel starter mounting bolts and diesel head bolts - those are the same
thread, and the more common slightly course 12 mm one.

And this other slightly odd 12 mm thread,
A finer one - that's what the spare tire bolt thread is. 

Best bet is to find one of a junkyard vanagon, 
Or get one from a vanagon friend, and identify the thread pitch with a
thread pitch gauge, then at a good hardware store or bolt supplier, get a 12
mm bolt in that thread, about 1 and half inches long.
Used one is the simple thing of course. 
Scott 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Kim Brennan
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 7:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Front heat always!

Yes, there is supposed to be bolt holding the spare tire carrier in
place. The latch is only there for AFTER the bolt is removed....or
before it is put back.

On May 16, 2008, at 10:34 PM, Slloth wrote:

> Well I looked above to tire carrier and saw that valve.  It wasn't
> very
> hard to manually close.  I think that fixed the problem although I am
> still getting a little heat I figure that is the "ram air" or fresh
> air
> coming from outside?  But it's not burning my feet anymore.  I drive
> barefoot most of the time.  Also that latch holding up the spare tire
> didn't seem very stout.  Is it only held up by the latch or is there
> supposed to be a bolt or something holding it up?
>
> --
> '84 Westfalia, 1.9L
> '73 FJ40, 2F

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