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Surfin02
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2017
Posts: 17
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 Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:12 pm Post subject: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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I am the new owner of an '87 Westfalia camper.
While sorting a few minor things I discovered this mystery wire & hole under the backseat.
Can anyone help me out that goes here?
You can see the hole from the front of the bus and the wire when you lift the seat.
Thanks! |
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3119
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:18 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Oooh, oooh, I know, I know!!
There used to be a rear heater under your seat. It probably leaked antifreeze all over and the previous owner pulled it out rather than fix it.
Mine, and many others, have the same thing going on and prefer having the extra space instead of the heater anyway.
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6247
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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| SCM wrote: |
Oooh, oooh, I know, I know!!
There used to be a rear heater under your seat. It probably leaked antifreeze all over and the previous owner pulled it out rather than fix it.
Mine, and many others, have the same thing going on and prefer having the extra space instead of the heater anyway. |
What he said. 
_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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AZ Landshaper
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2009
Posts: 1698
Location: The Old Pueblo
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:47 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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I think its from an old bread warmer the PO had. The heat from the engine keeps the bread warm while your traveling and the wires are there for the timer and light. So you didnt over warm and you were able to look in on the paninis and croissants.
_________________
Support Small Business.
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85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug. |
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Vnyd Dog
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2015
Posts: 384
Location: Napa
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Man, first post and everything, poor guy didn't even know what came standard with his "new" Westy...
_________________
'87 Westy 1.8T Conversion, Orignal Owner, European Delivery @ Westfalia factory in Weidenbrueck.
The Story:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=713391&highlight=life |
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MsTaboo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4098
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 2:38 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Gee…do you think the poor guy will come back with other questions when he's piled on? Give the new owner a break.
To the OP, yes, that's where the rear heater lived. Many owners will pull the heater when the core starts to leak (pretty common), the wires fed the blower fan. The two holes are where the water lines from the cooling system came into and out from the cabin.
If you live in a cold climate and use the van year round you may want to source a replacement, the extra heater helps keep all that space warm.
Otherwise you can survive without. I removed mine more for the extra space rather than any problems with leaking.
One thing you may want to check is how the lines were dealt with, some will merely cap the two lines with some kind of plugs, but best practice is to create a loop so coolant flows from one to the other.
Welcome to the Samba. We love photos so post some of your new toy!
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine. |
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Surfin02
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2017
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:31 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Thanks everyone for the feedback.
@MsTaboo here's a pic
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vwjetboat
Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2017
Posts: 1732
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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| very nice camper.. |
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MsTaboo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4098
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Nice looking van!
I don't know how much reading you have done here on the Samba, but there is a list of first things to check with a new used van.
Check out the "Vanagon Essentials FAQ Guide" at the top of the page.
Good luck and have fun!
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine. |
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the joker
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2006
Posts: 1287
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 4:19 am Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Welcome to the madness First on the list 2 new fire extinguishers
( chk out the new halon stuff out there) fuel lines , alt belt, auto pedal lock,battery kill switches . good luck nice westy enjoy the ride |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32630
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 4:52 am Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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| MsTaboo wrote: |
Gee…do you think the poor guy will come back with other questions when he's piled on? Give the new owner a break.
Welcome to the Samba. We love photos so post some of your new toy! |
As a past forum admin/owner for 10 years this I appreciate the most...
Off topic but what prompted me to open my own photography forum years ago (2004) was an experience i had on another photo forum. I posted a question as a complete newbie and more experienced, existing members chimed in "read the manual!" much like some here now say "read the bentley!" as well as a bunch of other snarky remarks/answers to my question.
I explained that in the amount of key strokes it took to berate me they could have simply answered my question. I left. Never to return. Main rule in my new forum was as in life... there are no stupid questions. Either answer a newbie's question or don't comment at all. Simple. We were all beginners at one point... Nobody woke up one day having all of the knowledge about photography or in this case vanagons, so pay it forward and help inform the new guys and welcome them to the fold. The community becomes better for it. 13 years later, I still hold true to this rule...
Surfin02, welcome aboard... My inbox is always available if you have a question or help with something. Fine looking Van you have there and be prepared... there is a lot of information to learn about these vehicles but its all worth it!
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Abel Longoria
VanAlert App for Vanagons/Buses | Texas Vanagons | My Vanagon Build Thread | Follow Me On Instagram | Vanagon-centric Stickers Available Now |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32630
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3119
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 7:35 am Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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| MsTaboo wrote: |
Gee…do you think the poor guy will come back with other questions when he's piled on? Give the new owner a break.
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I don't understand what raised your hackles.
I was just excited that I, without doubt, knew the answer to a question - I'm no mechanic so I often can't add to discussions about transmissions etc.
PDX confirmed my response.
AZ made a funny joke.
And somehow that's "piling on"?
OP, great looking van. White is one of my favorite colors for a Westy.
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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cmayna
Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2014
Posts: 1148
Location: SF Bay area, CA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Back to the original question and OP, depending on where you live and how often you plan to camp in wintery weather, I'd consider keeping the rear heater out so you can have more storage room. I have yet to use my rear heater and am considering removing it. Put a sliding drawer in the square hole?
_________________
'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 8:15 am Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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There's a stock rear heater that sits in that place that comes from the factory. The wiring harness you see is for that heater like mentioned earlier. The harness controls the fan power and speeds.
The heater is just like a small radiator where hot coolant flows through it and the fan blows through the radiator/heater core and helps warm the cabin.
Here's what the heater looks like. notice the coolant hoses that go through the wall.
This might be a bit much to digest but you can see how the heater hoses incorporate into the cooling system
Often times when you hear of old cars beginning to overheat in the summer while tackling a mountain passes etc they'll turn their heat on... this is because it helps disperse the heat from the cooling system into the vehicle. like adding 2 more small radiators in the case of the vanagon. 1 in front and 1 in the rear.
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Abel Longoria
VanAlert App for Vanagons/Buses | Texas Vanagons | My Vanagon Build Thread | Follow Me On Instagram | Vanagon-centric Stickers Available Now |
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 1948
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 8:40 am Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Did anyone notice how shiny the OP's camper floor is? Good gravy!
kourt
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17155
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 9:31 am Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Welcome to the Samba. Being from south Florida, heat is not the most critical option. As mentioned you can store a lot of stuff under the back seat. Problem is accessing it. It is not always convenient to lift the seat to get in there. So we end up storing the things we don't need often. I am not brave enough to cut an access hole in the face, but if I were a new owner in your situation, I might consider a way to use that opening as an access area. You could fabricate a small door and partition it so that things you put it there would stay put, but could be easily accessed. Our espar auxillary heater ended up in that space as well as our camping battery.
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AZ Landshaper
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2009
Posts: 1698
Location: The Old Pueblo
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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I grew up in a region where you pile it on. Thats just how we roll.
On another note I converted my westy to subaru and had to add that rear heater as a fuction of my cooling system. I bought mine from JEGS. Looks identical to the pic posted. Was pretty cheap and kicks out a good deal of heat (not that we need that in my parts).
It might not fit the hole where your bread warmer use to be so check the measurements. Or go stock.
_________________
Support Small Business.
-------------------------------------------------------
85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug. |
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bobbyblack 
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4351
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery wire & hole in my 1987 Westfalia Camper |
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Abel, that is one clean looking heater! I see you've go the replacement heater control valve installed, one of the big vendors, I'd say, comparing your picture to what I got from GoWesty. I LOVE my underseat heater. Funny tho, that I forgot to turn it "off" with the valve for Summer, and the kids kept wondering why the entire back of the van was so hot on our 15 hour drive  All of my tools, spare parts, and the seat/bed was toasty, to say the least... Kids asked for A/C, and I gave it.. After I unloaded all the parts/tools and turned the valve off, we didn't need A/C anymore.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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