I went inside the cabin, dropped the glove box, clamped off the two hoses
going down to the heater valve,removed the hoses and dropped the valve
assembly with hoses and cable onto the driveway to work on it. You have to
undo the little clamp on the heater valve control cable by removing the
instrument cluster and the slider plate if I recall correctly.
Definitely worth it if you don't want your arms all cut up trying to reach
up into that hole, and especially trying to get hoses and the little metal
clip onto the lower end of the control cable, which has been practically
impossible. It may sound scary that you have to remove a hose going into
the heater but you will only lose about a tablespoon of coolant doing this.

Another issue: don't waste your time with the standard ten dollar valve.
They last about as long as cheap CV boots and junky ignition switches. If
you can, get the gowesty replacement ($$$ but lifetime guarantee) or one of
the many much much cheaper replacements for the gowesty item you can find
by googling gowesty vanagon heater valve replacement.

Don't lose the little clip that secures the lower end of the cable!!

Jim

On Wed, Jun 30, 2021 at 6:51 PM Jack R <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:

> I did both on my back in the driveway, without even lifting my 84 Westy
> (sits higher than a 90).  Only a slight lift on the 90 Westy.
>
>
>
> I used basic tools, like vice grips, and was able to do it (probably less
> than a $20 tool investment at Harbor Freight).
>
>
>
> Funny thing, our friends who had the 90 Westy was an OBGYN… while lending
> a hand, he said delivering a baby was a bit easier… LOL!
>
>
>
> From: Richard Koerner [mailto:rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 7:04 PM
> To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com; Jack R
> Subject: Re: Hot Foot well
>
>
>
> The guy in the youtube video had a lift.  How hard would this job be if
> only floor jack and jackstands?  Seems like that heater valve is waaaay up
> there, and jackstands make the valve even further away.  Also, need the
> hose pinch pliers and the gizmo to remove the spring clamps; at that point,
> it seems it is starting to make sense to buy the valve and take it to a
> mechanic who has these tools and equipment (I would think any experienced
> auto mechanic, wouldn't have to necessarily be a Vanagon mechanic).
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, 3:34:28 PM PDT, Jack R <jack007@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> John
>
> I had this issue in my 84 Westy, and our friends had it in their 90 Westy.
>
> In BOTH cases, a change (30 to 60 minutes, depending on experience) of the
> heater valve did the trick!
> 3 years later, still no hot feet!
> But the valve will set you back $9, so save your pennies :)
> https://www.vanagain.com/shop/valve-front-heater
>
> Difficulty of a "2" on a 1-10 scale.
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35MkLMMQrhc
>
> Hope this helps!
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of John Rodgers
> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2021 11:25 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Hot Foot well
>
> My front heater is putting out some heat all the time, even though
> everything is in the off position. At this point I am interested in just
> cutting off the water to the heater core. Anyone know how to do this? How
> to put in a shut off valve somewhere. Got a link to a how-to video maybe?
>
> Thanks
>