All it takes is a brittle, cracked O-ring. Remember the Challenger explosion in'86?

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 23, 2014, at 8:55 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> The heater valve, an inline plastic thingy, sometimes gets leaky and a
> little coolant will cause a big smell.   On mine, when I still had that
> heater, it was a brittle cracked O-ring in that valve.
> 
> On Sun, Nov 23, 2014 at 7:10 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> The rear heater core is prone to failure more so than the front. Have it
>> inspected and replaced if needed. A small amount of coolant can make a lot
>> of vapor. Also, I would only open the valve part way. Coolant that flows to
>> the rear heater is not available for the front heater and it needs all it
>> can get since it is heating outside air.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of Eric Caron
>> Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2014 10:07 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Smelling coolant suspect rear heater
>> 
>>        Hi folks,
>> 
>>        I’ve been out with the van a few times in November and have turned
>> the rear heater valve back to full and have been using the rear heat.  I
>> smell coolant when I turn on the rear fan.  I don’t smell it when the fan
>> is off.  I have not found any coolant on the floor under the seat.  i do
>> have the drain plugs open as a prevention in case of leak.
>> has anyone noticed this smell before a rear heater failure?  could it be
>> the fan rather then the heater.  When I purchased the van the rear heater
>> fan did not work but replacing the fuse has fixed the problem for over a
>> year.
>> 
>> coolant level is unchanged.
>> 
>> Experiences,and recommendations appreciated.  I’m considering just calling
>> a vendor to change out the core but it seems silly to do if it has nothing
>> to do with the heater core.
>> 
>> Eric Caron
>> 85 GL Auto
>>