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kirkvw72
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2006
Posts: 283
Location: Hoffman Estates, Illinois
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 Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:22 am Post subject: Several "discoveries" during dash fan replacement |
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My dash fan has never worked since I bought the van last December (2012). I checked the fuses and replaced the switch when I bought it just in case - no luck. I bought a replacement fan and just got around to replacing the defective fan last weekend. I had several discoveries along the way.
Removal of the dash was simple and painless due to Ben's pictures and instructions. I went to remove the fan box, but it wouldn't come out. It was loose, but there were still two screws installed by the factory that came from the other side of the firewall (had to remove the grill to get to the screw heads). This was discovery number one.
The second discovery - though I knew it was coming - was that 80% of my air box was an old mouse nest! I had seen small amounts of material coming out from the door vents, but I never imagined the amount of material that was in this box. No mice, just tons and tons of nesting material. Here is the sad part. I've had pneumonia twice and multiple sinus infections since buying the van. Doctors have been stumped - I've seen them all it seems like. Pulmonary specialist, allergist, x-rays, blood tests, ct-scans - all negative. Well, I think I found the problem! The motor was clogged with nesting material, and it was completely seized. I have no idea how the fuse didn't blow any time the switch was on, or how a fire didn't start. Regardless, I am thankful the job is done (all put back together, new fan works great), and I am hopeful that the cause of my health problems has been solved.
The last discovery was a little perplexing. When testing everything out one last time after putting everything back together, I placed my hand over the passenger side, extreme right defroster vent that is on top of the vent (the one that clears the window) and no air was coming out. I quickly thought that maybe it was clogged with material or that the hose got crunched. I took the glovebox down to access the hose. I took it off, and I tried to look through it. Nope, no light. Flashlight? No light. Vacuum? No suction. Hmmm. I take the elbow off the hose, and the hose is completely clear. Super strange. I happen to turn the elbow around to look at it, and it was never opened up by the factory! It basically acts as a plug. Can this be by design? Or is it a manufacturing mistake? I put it back together as it was, and I thought I'd see what everyone thought about it.
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1997 Miata
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1987 Porsche 944 (951) Turbo
1987 Vanagon GL, Rocky Jennings Heads, RMW Exhaust, ASL 5-speed, AMG Wheels
1972 Beetle (standard)
1986 Westy, 2.5 Subaru
1973 Porsche 914 2.0 |
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Bntbrl
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012
Posts: 436
Location: Seattle, Wa
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| Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:55 am Post subject: |
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Make sure all your wires are hooked up well for the dash lighting. Up til 85 apparently there's no fuse for the blue wires that power the dash lights. Mine and several others have burnt.
On a side I know a person that was allergic to chickens. Turns out she ha a soy allergy and the chicken feed is made largely of soy. No soy chicken feed fixed it. Maybe the mouse nest had enough dust and junk in it to irritate you.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia 1.9 wbx
www.DIYSeattle.com |
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hans j
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Joined: May 06, 2006
Posts: 2741
Location: Salt Lake City UT
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:18 am Post subject: |
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I did the same job yesterday and was expecting to find the same but mouse stuff was minimal. My motor was just completely rusted. All four bolts holding the air box in were rusted too! I had to use heat on the bottom two and a screwdriver socket to get enough leverage to get them all out.
I checked my elbow vent too and mine was open.
I might add it's worthwhile to jump power to the resistor while it's all apart to make sure all the speeds work, I wouldn't want to pull it back out!
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181 |
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Gauche1968
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Joined: April 13, 2006
Posts: 1561
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:49 am Post subject: |
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You need to wear a mask and gloves whenever you are dealing with a mouse nest. There is a threat of Hanta virus.....
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1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy |
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goffoz
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Joined: May 09, 2007
Posts: 1486
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:57 am Post subject: Re: Several "discoveries" during dash fan replacem |
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| kirkvw72 wrote: |
| I take the elbow off the hose, and the hose is completely clear. Super strange. I happen to turn the elbow around to look at it, and it was never opened up by the factory! It basically acts as a plug. Can this be by design? Or is it a manufacturing mistake? I put it back together as it was, and I thought I'd see what everyone thought about it. |
Inside the elbow is a splitter, to direct the air. If you pull the elbow off the vent piece you rotate it 90deg. ..It should be open.
I've seen alot of these installed with the elbow 90 deg. off...doesn't work that way. |
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Terry Kay
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Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know why that defroster vent is closed off, and not sure if it's an error or accident in manufacture.
If your thinking about having the door glass defrosted it should be open.
I sure hope you washed out everything that was plugged up with the mouse droppings real good.
Last fall I thought I had a bad sinus infection too--
Nope--it was Leptospirosis, from grinding & cutting on a bone yard sheet metal panel to fit a truck.
Worst virus that I ever experienced.
It'll make you have headaches you've never had before & left untreated will kill you.
I was down for a month--after taking antibiotics.
I don't know how you'd be sure to get the vent hoses all cleaned out , any heater air passage--but try your best anyway--this is nothing to be taken lightly.
Rat, Mice, pigeon, racoon, chicken droppings, & urine will either make you very sick or kill you.
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32988
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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LAXAGON
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2012
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, be careful Hanta virus is a real problem. |
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Bntbrl
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012
Posts: 436
Location: Seattle, Wa
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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I found a museum quality mouse skeleton under the seat.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia 1.9 wbx
www.DIYSeattle.com |
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kirkvw72
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2006
Posts: 283
Location: Hoffman Estates, Illinois
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Terry Kay wrote: |
I don't know why that defroster vent is closed off, and not sure if it's an error or accident in manufacture.
If your thinking about having the door glass defrosted it should be open. |
I'll take it back off and snap a picture for everyone. Totally uncut elbow pipe. Guess its a mistake!
_________________
1997 Miata
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1987 Porsche 944 (951) Turbo
1987 Vanagon GL, Rocky Jennings Heads, RMW Exhaust, ASL 5-speed, AMG Wheels
1972 Beetle (standard)
1986 Westy, 2.5 Subaru
1973 Porsche 914 2.0 |
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