Interesting coincidence….i just got one of tencents ( intrepid overland ) heater valves with the constant bleeding feature .  Air bleeding of coolant, not fingers.

Haven’t installed yet.

My stock valve does not stop coolant to core any more.  

Alistair 

> On May 24, 2024, at 4:24 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> On the cheap(er) OEM style replacements, they will lose the ability to shut
> off water flow no matter if they are open or closed. I went through about
> three of those before ordering the then-$70 Gowesty upgrade valve and
> installing it. Even then it failed after two years but they sent me a free
> replacement. That has been about twelve years and no problem with the
> valve, just the cable-kink service Dennis describes one time.
> 
> The swap out operation is almost trivial. Don’t try to work with your hands
> up in the valve cavity lying on your back. Drop the glovebox and remove the
> two heater hose connections from the heater core. Pinch off the hoses with
> harbor freight hose clamps so you don’t lose coolant. Lower the whole valve
> assembly to the driveway and work on it there, then draw the hoses back up
> and reconnect to the heater core.
> 
> Jim
> 
>> On Fri, May 24, 2024 at 6:12 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> First place to look is at the cable. Common for it to kink at the lever
>> end. Easy to service after pulling instrument cluster.
>> Only reason to replace valve is if it is frozen to the point it cannot
>> move or it leaks. If it moves, it will close as best it can unless the guts
>> were melted.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of ron
>> johnson
>> Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2024 10:03 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Front heater never shuts off
>> 
>> My 91 is so uncomfortable in the summer.
>> Heat pours out of the dash with the heat control fully off.
>> Recommendations mostly point to replacing the control valve which is a
>> difficult process. Howes sells a deluxe unit for $90…..
>> Can a shut-off valve be installed in an easier to access location.
>> 
>> Many Thanks,
>> Ron J
>> Portland, OR
>> 91 Weekender, ‘Betsy’
>>