Club 80-90 Forums

My van is a 1982 2-litre air-cooled (so no electric fan).

On a particularly cold day on my tour of Ireland this summer I noticed that there was no hint of warmth in the air coming through the heater vents. I think that the side vents are meant to provide only cold air and that warm air should only be directed to the central screen vents or floor vents. I have been keeping the heater control on hot but the air coming through the windscreen vent is completely cold.

I have heard that the heaters aren't meant to be particularly effective, but I would have thought that some warmth should be detectable, particularly after a couple of hours' driving.

Assuming that something, somewhere is not working as it should, where should I start looking?

Thanks, Ed

Start by checking that the heater cable is attached to the heater control pod - this is visible over the rear wheel on the chassis - if the cables are still attached make sure that the control pod opens when you move the heater lever in the cab to hot. If not your cable needs adjusting.

Also worth checking the condition of the heat riser & heat exchanger - both sides located underneath engine behind each rear wheel - check joints upto control pod.

Contrary to belief if all your hot air ducting is in good order Aircooled heaters are actually very good. I've had times in my van when I found it too hot!!!
Anyway I'd check the following things:
Are the pipes present from the fan housing into the rear of the heat exchangers?
Are the heat risers present from the front of the heat exchangers to the heater control pods?
Are the heater control pods present (mushroom looking thing with a cable operated flap, can be found either side by looking up through the rear wheel areches)?
If the pods are present are they in good order and do the flaps move when you move the hot/cold slider on the dash?

I would imagine there will be some parts missing as there usually are.
I'm currently running my van without the control pods as they were totally rusted away. In the winter I replaced them with aluminium flexipipe for permanent heat, I've removed them at the minute for no heat. New pods from JK are top of my list before the winter!

Hope this helps
Toby

Thanks for the helpful advice, chaps. I'll take a look when it's not raining...

must be the same problem with my bay then! cant be bothered to look to much hassle!!!!