Hi Tom:

Well, my fan blew within 2 weeks of getting my van! Really pissed me off.

What the mechanic says is correct, off comes the dash (31/2 - 4 shop hours)
crack open the housing, replace the motor.

While he's in there, he should replace every bulb with a new one. Otherwise,
you'll put up with burned out bulbs, rather than spend the money. I had all
mine replaced when the fan got done.

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Clein <tomkat@ISOMEDIA.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Thursday, February 04, 1999 2:20 PM
Subject: Westy Sychro Fresh Air Fan Problem

>HELP!  Love to take my '87 Westy Sychro skiing, but heater/defroster fan
>inoperable.  VW Dealer tells me fan is kaput and 'drawing 20 amps at
>rest'...whatever that means.  Anyway, $900 fix!
>
>Is this something I can tackle myself?
>
>Should I do anything else while I've got the dash out (heater core? - how
>difficult is this to replace)?
>
>Dealer tells me the only way to fix is to replace...remove entire dashboard
>and 'break open the box that holds the fan.  Anybody else experienced this
>problem?...got the impression from mechanic that it happens "pretty often".
>
>
>I've checked/replace switch and fuses numerous times to no avail.  Undying
>gratitude for assistance!
>
>Thanks.
>
>Tom Clein
>21421 NE 79th St
>Redmond, WA  98053
>(425) 868-5185  Voice
>(206) 409-9622  Cellular
>tomkat@isomedia.com
>