That's where mine is too. I have some annotated photos around somewhere if
you want them. The idea is to loosen the hoses and the cable wire so you
can withdraw it from the hole and work on it on the driveway. I got tired
of scraping the same utility arm. No need for padding or pillow, just pull
it down and work on it where you can see it.

Jim

On Wed, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:55 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>wrote:

> It sounds like yours is in a different location.  On both my '84 and '85
> the
> valve is up above the spare tire, way up in the hump behind the radiator,
> and just hangs from the hoses.  I thought about removing the  large rubber
> plug in the hump that the hoses and cable go through, but It was so
> hardened
> I was afraid I'd destroy it or never get it back in.  No doubt that's how
> they installed it at the factory though.
>
> Working around the fan motor to get a clip on that's adjusted perfectly
> took
> me about a half hour, and a pair of long nose vice grips. Just to be sure
> it
> didn't pop off I wrapped it with a cable tie.
>
> As a bonus, I managed to scrape the crap out of my left (utility) arm and
> rip off part of the tip of my ring finger.  I don't want to do this job
> again.  At least the spare carrier gives you a nice backrest to lay on!  I
> recommend adding cardboard padding, a pillow, and raise the van to provide
> the most comfortable angle,
> you'll be there for a while.  Beer helps too.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Felder [mailto:jim.felder@gmail.com]
>
> That cable clamp... One of the easiest things on a Vanagon IF you have it
> right in front of you instead of trying to do it blind up in the hole it's
> in.
>
> Since you have to take the hoses off anyway, go ahead and take it off at
> the
> top where it goes into the heater box, behind the glove box. Then remove
> the
> 7mm bolt that clamps the heater control. Pull off the heat distribution
> cover and then pull the valve down to the floor where you have a fair
> chance
> of dealing with it.
>
> More stuff to do, but easier especially to get the clip just right.
>
> Jim
>
>
>