Vanagon dash removal is a lot easier than a lot of other vehicles. If you
are getting hot air from the heater with the lever off check the heater
valve for proper operation. It is common for the valve to be bad or the
cable liked-mis adjusted.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mike B
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2012 9:32 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Heater flap foam replacement detail

My mileage does vary.  In the summer I put cold drinks in my original-style
cupholders mounted on both sides of my automatic shift console.  The heater
leaks enough heated air in the summer to warm up my ice cold drinks in
minutes.  Not to mention, leaking heat into my already-hot interior.  (I
don't have A/C).  I want to fix my flaps with new seals so at least this
won't happen, but the rest is fine.  I've never had a Vanagon dash out
(yet), so I don't look forward to the job....

Mike B,

On 12/10/2012 8:50 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
> Dennis Haynes writes to say "Actually for heat you need to let some
> outside air in. All the heated air comes from outside. Usually the
> foam is replaced to stop of the whistling noises when closing all the
> vents is attempted."
>
> I took the heater box out this spring and serviced it. The old foam
> seals had crumbled like a sandcastle at high tide, like marzipan in a
> hot tub.
>
> But I didn't replace them. During warm weather, there's little need to
> close the flaps, and during winter I only close them while waiting for
> the engine to warm sufficiently to provide hot water to the heater core.
> This takes, what? five minutes?
>
> I have not heard any whistling w/o the foam bits while driving during
> the initial warm-up period, nor a cold draft.
>
> I'm not disappointed that I chose not to put in new foam, because it
> looked like a real PITA -- and lemme tell ya', it was a risky decision
> considering how difficult it is to get that darn heater box out. But
> we (me and my son) studied the flaps, flipped them about, discussed
> it, drank a glass of wine or two (me) or PBR (my son), looked at how
> tightly the flaps closed with no foam, and -- taking the lazy man's
> way out -- decided to to take a pass on the foam replacement step.
>
> It's worked out fine.
>
> I can't think of many situations where I'd want the flaps to stay
> closed for any length of time and when a bit of air getting through
> would be troublesome. In warm weather I like a breeze, in cold I wait
> for the core to heat then open them, and any leakage isn't a bother.
>
> Me, I'd say skip that fussy bit. Replace the heater core and the
> blower motor, lube what needs lubing, blow things out -- and be done with
it.
>
> But, as they say: YMMV.
>
> Jack out.
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
>
> On 12/10/2012 05:03 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>> Actually for heat you need to let some outside air in. All the heated
>> air comes from outside. Usually the foam is replaced to stop of the
>> whistling noises when closing all the vents is attempted. If you
>> think about things you never really don't want to stop all outside
>> air, even when using the AC.
>> You have to have some fresh air and O2 coming in.
>>
>> Dennis