Date:         Sun, 23 Nov 2014 14:58:59 -0500
Reply-To:     Eric Caron <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Caron <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Smelling coolant suspect rear heater
In-Reply-To:  <CAHTkEuJV9kuKQcn92_jfHtKs2QJPeNsBa1LcJc+qrCJk8bW8Xg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

With regard to the heater valve, the plastic turn thing not the metal flipper on the side of the heater cover but the plastic round thing with the flat thumb screw.  how far down should that be turned?  Mine is not tight down.

Eric 
> On Nov 23, 2014, at 11:55 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
>>