HVAC Side Window vents, how do they work?

[ewalt98]

I finally decided to repair the HVAC on my 82, which has never fully worked since I've had it, that is for 20 years.
I knew that the topmost control cable for the rear floor vent was broken, and the bottom two were bent right at the lever. Oh, one of the hot air cables was disconnected at the hot air diverter. Anyway, the fan finally started to scream, so that prompted me to pull the dash, and fix everything.

I repaired the motor, and used a little plastic cap over the end of the motor shaft, then replaced the flap seals, and put the box back in. It works great.

After fixing/hooking up all the cables, I ran the fan and adjusted the air controls to see if everything worked.

Here are my questions:

Regardless of how I set the controls, I don't feel any air coming out of the side window defrost vents. Do these vents only operate while driving? I do feel some air coming out of the central defrost vents.
Also, regardless of control settings, I feel air coming out of the dash vents. Is this normal?
Finally, I don't feel any air coming out of the rear floor vent, does that only work when driving?

I did read the westfalia.org description, which helped in overall understanding, but didn't mention the side defrost vents.

Also, my van had AC originally, but other than the wiring and relays, it has all been removed by the PO. I'm pretty sure there was no interface with the front box and control levers, correct? I don't see where the AC control should be, though.

Does anyone have some insight?

Thanks
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Eric
82 Westfalia Camper (Currently getting a little bit fixed up)
85 944
72 GT6
88 F350
03 F150

[OwnYourReality]

you've got a lot of questions & I won't even pretend to have all the answers for you but when I started working on my 87 syncro's system I got a lot of good info from go westy's site. maybe this will help.

http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=311
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"Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Al Einstein

[geo_tonz]

Rear floor vent:
-if you mean under the rear bench that is a separate heater core with it's own fan controlled by the fan switch closest the steering column.
-if you mean a metal vent behind the front seats at floor level then that's a gasoline-powered aux heater with a separate control (green knob beneath regular heater controls).

EDIT: SORRY dawned on me you are talking about an aircooled. Not sure what to say other than so far as I've heard, the defrost sucks badly on those.

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"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper

[Phishman068]

Winter setting: all right.
Summer setting: all left.
Other seasons become confusing.
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=559766&highlight=winter+rust
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482402&highlight=sunroof+syncro
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569774
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6864936#6864936

"Along with the ability to go fast, one looses the desire to hurry."

[ewalt98]