Gas Heater Basics

[babyv]

Hello! We are the proud owners of a "like new" 79 Westy....... can't quite figure out how I made it to 36 years old without owning one before now!!!

Anyway, for the most part it is in excellent shape, original paint, little to no rust, well maintained.

The two major issues are 1) won't start easily and stay running when cold (I'm having this looked at by a local mechanic as I type), and 2) Gas Heater not working.

I'd like to try a little bit of troubleshooting with the manuals provided on this site and elsewhere, but how do I tell what type of gas heater I have?? From reading previous posts, I believe it is a BA6, but where to begin??

Thanks!!

Geoff

[busdaddy]

If it's a 79 and the heater is under the bus between the frame rails it's a BA-6, the place to start is changing all the fuel lines and cleaning all the grounds. Next remove the LH kick panel and check that the relay isn't full of water from a windshield leak.

Hopefully your mechanic knows L-jet diagnosis and doesn't just start throwing parts at it(other than new fuel lines).
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

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[babyv]

learning already...... I had assumed it was in the rear!! thanks!

[ns-v-dubber]

Welcome to The Samba fellow Nova Scotian. Good luck with getting your gas heater to work. that is one of the projects that I hope to tackle in the future.
_________________
78 Westy (with 1600 - long story)
84 Doka (with 2.9 V6 Ford)- sold
90 Jetta - sold
92 Eurovan 8 passenger - sold
www.vintagevdubbers.ca

[Fillmore77]

YOur truck could have also been retrofitted with a BN4, which were originally installed as an option onolder buses in the engine compartement, on the left side. A duct went through the firewall.

If your truck was originally sold in Canada, it automatically got the gas heater, in which case it would be a BA6, under the bus.

An easy way to tell if the bus was Canadian or American sold, is the location of the electrical hookup on the driver side of the bus.

Canadian buses had the hookup lind up with the small compartment just forward of the upright closet, with a coiled cable ready to be pulled out to wherever you wanted to plug it in.

American buses had the hookup lined up more forward, with nothing but male prongs that you would hook up to an extension cord.

There may also be a sticker on the inside of the left cabinet door, with the entire pedigree the bus came with. If that is there, you will see the gas heater option marked.
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You can have it quickly, you can have it good, you can have it cheap...Pick two...

1977 Bay Westy, stock 2.0l FI, Hailing from Quebec, Canada.

[busdaddy]

Here's a BN-4, but I'll bet it's a BA-6 under the bus.

_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[mrea46]

They also make great shop heaters...

[Vamstad]

For the cold start issue, check your cold start valve and related connections. One of the connections is kind of hidden under the air plenum on the left side (for a temp sensor, I think).

The cold start valve injects a little fuel into the plenum to assist with cold starts. On my 1979, I had to feather the gas for a while until it warmed up a bit. I found a loose connection and the problem was solved. Now the bus starts right away...Hopefully your fix will be as easy.

BTW...I have the BA6 and it works very well. I did, however, stand back with a fire extinguisher when I tried it the first time.
_________________
Fear is the mind killer.
1979 Federal Westfalia
2.0 FI