Heater pod issue

[windydubber]

Hi All,
I managed to get under the van properly for the first time today instead of having a cursory glance! My main reason was to see why the heater blows hot all the time. I've done the research and seen that it could be a broken cable, Detached cable, a broken heater pod or a combination of all of these!
So when I got under the van. Looked at the end of the pipe that comes off the heat exchanger where the heater control pod should be. And it looks like its been taken out and replaced with some normal ducting. Thus meaning the heat is always going to be on!

So is this a standard bodge for someone who doesn't want to get new pods? Or something more sinister? Or have I got it totally wrong (wouldn't be the first time!) and it's not supposed to have the pods?

It's a 2.0l Aircooled 1981. We are off to France, Italy and Spain in a couple of months so could do with sorting it really!

Cheers

[BOXY]

It's a standard bodge, at least for me. Funnily enough I've just disconnected the silicone ducting I use to by-pass my pods in the "winter".



I had a cheap source for silicone ducting, so £56 each for pods, and another £50 for riser tubes and the same again for cables meant the bodge was a no-brainer.

[bigherb]

The heater pods are at the other end of the engine, the heater cable connects to the little arm at the top.

[BOXY]

My ducting replaced the shot risers as well

[windydubber]

Hi bigherb,
Def not there! I was hoping they were so that I could shut the heat off.
Looks like we may be having a sweaty holiday!!

[windydubber]

So do you guys just put up with the heat?

[BOXY]

Just disconnect (and remove) the ducting. In the winter the van is toasty. In the spring I open the windows or open the cold vents to balance the temperature. In the summer I don't need any heat so I leave the ducting disconnected.

[windydubber]

Is it as simple as that? No problem with air getting into the heat exchanger?

[BOXY]

Normally the fan on the engine pushes the air through the heat exchangers and then through the pods into the ducting that lead to the front of the van. If the pods are working all they do is open and vent the hot air out their tops when you select "cold" or close when you select "hot". Its not exactly climate control.

[windydubber]

Lol. Cheers. I just don't want to muck it up! I'll disconnect it for our trip then. And think about new pods next year.