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Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:17 pm

Today, when vacuuming the front carpet area, I was reminded that I had absolutely no idea what this was......

It is installed in the otherwise unaccessible "secret storage area" underneath the driver's seat, towards the middle of the van (nearer to the parking brake).

I tried taking off the front flange (as shown in the photo) and tried to pull out the bit still attached, with the flapper valve inside. Seemed pretty firmly attached to something!

Is this stock? The front flange has a VW part number mouled onto the back. Could the duct be related to the gas heater we have under the back seat and never use--in fact, have never fired up?

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Kathy
85/88 Westy

Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:27 pm

Yup gas heater outlet.
Your heater is under the rear seat???
Usually is is under the van.

Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:29 pm

Oops; I guess it is under the van. Remind me--what is it that's under the back seat--is that part of the standard heater?

Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:16 pm

One more islander... wrote: ...Remind me--what is it that's under the back seat--is that part of the standard heater?

The coolant-operated rear heater is under the rear seat.

Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:32 pm

Thanks, Ahwahnee, thanks, Wellington. That makes sense :oops:

There also is a shallow, gridded vent facing backwards at the back of the walkthrough between the seats. Since no-one typically sits in the back while we're driving, I don't have any sense of whether or not air comes out of that.

Is it part of the gas heater setup as well?

Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:33 pm

Yes it's for the Eberspacher heater that came in some years of Canadian vans.

It goes into the front wheel well, and from the factory there's a heater duct hose there that runs over the frame member and to the heat exchanger that's under the drivers side middle cargo area.

I took the whole (non-functional) heater out some time ago, and you're right, that little orifice is glued in with something sturdy. I ended up plugging it from the back and leaving it. :)

Robyn

Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:36 pm

One more islander... wrote: Thanks, Ahwahnee, thanks, Wellington. That makes sense :oops:

There also is a shallow, gridded vent facing backwards at the back of the walkthrough between the seats. Since no-one typically sits in the back while we're driving, I don't have any sense of whether or not air comes out of that.

Is it part of the gas heater setup as well?

Yes, it is. If everything is working, its a very effective heater.

Robyn