Heating Issues
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
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Heating Issues
'70 Karmann Ghia (Gretchen), stock dp, feeble heat, for no apparent reason that I can tell. Heater boxes are in good shape, bellows in place, cables dandy, but very little air making it to the cabin. My current reasoning has led to to think perhaps the heater channels of the car are blocked with rust and crud. Has anyone else had thoughts along this line?.
I thought I might disconnect the bellows and try blowing out the body's heater channels from the interior floor vents with compressed air.
Sound viable? Maybe a small plumber's snake?
neal
I thought I might disconnect the bellows and try blowing out the body's heater channels from the interior floor vents with compressed air.
Sound viable? Maybe a small plumber's snake?
neal
The slipper has no teeth.
-
- Addicted!
- Location: Quartz Hill, CA
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Re: Heating Issues
I've found some pretty crazy stuff in my heater channels. I use a cheapo plumbers snake. Normally it's mice or squirrel nests your knocking out. Also check the flaps on the heater boxes are opening properly. Good luck!
1968 Karmann Ghia - Driver
1969 Transporter - Project
1959 Karmann Ghia - Full Race Car
1969 Transporter - Project
1959 Karmann Ghia - Full Race Car
- Westy78
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Stumptown OR
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Re: Heating Issues
Not sure how the Ghia's heat is plumbed but in the Buses part of that tubing is a compressed, spiraled cardboard up front. When I did work on my heat I pulled that front tubing down and found that not only was it full of debris but that the spiral, glued part of the inner tube had started to give up and lay inside the tube blocking a lot of the air flow. Something to check if the Ghia has the same kind of plumbing. I have nice strong heat now.
Chorizo, it's what's for breakfast.
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
- Contact:
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Re: Heating Issues
I forgot about those cardboards, airflow is feeble at the window, too. And thanks Bajaman, I think I will be the plumber's snake route.
neal
neal
The slipper has no teeth.
- satchmo
- Old School!
- Location: Crosby, MN
- Status: Offline
Re: Heating Issues
Top ten reasons for no flow of heat/air to front of vehicle:
1) Mouse nest
2) Mouse nest
3) Mouse nest
4) Heater tubes disconnected at rear
5) Heater tubes disconnected somewhere up front (like in the door bulkhead)
6) Loose or bent heater control cable
7) Loose or bent heater cable control linkage at flapper box in rear
8 ) Rusted shut floor vent valve
9) Rusted out heater channels along floor
and finally,
10) Valve/plate/spring in flapper box in back has rusted, broken and is blocking airflow. This won't be obvious unless you remove the flapper box and take a look at the motion of the valve inside.
Happy hunting, Tim
1) Mouse nest
2) Mouse nest
3) Mouse nest
4) Heater tubes disconnected at rear
5) Heater tubes disconnected somewhere up front (like in the door bulkhead)
6) Loose or bent heater control cable
7) Loose or bent heater cable control linkage at flapper box in rear
8 ) Rusted shut floor vent valve
9) Rusted out heater channels along floor
and finally,
10) Valve/plate/spring in flapper box in back has rusted, broken and is blocking airflow. This won't be obvious unless you remove the flapper box and take a look at the motion of the valve inside.
Happy hunting, Tim
By three methods we may learn wisdom:
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
second, by immitation, which is easiest;
and third, by experience, which is bitterest. -Confucius
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
second, by immitation, which is easiest;
and third, by experience, which is bitterest. -Confucius
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Heating Issues
Neal, my Squareback has some plastic ducts under the rear seat area that I don't think you have. When your heater box-to-car bellows attach to the car, can you see how they get to the rocker channels? Check for rust-outs. A plumber's snake might drill right through the wall, so I think I would first try compressed air. Does the Karmann Ghia have those pathetic little paper tubes leading up from the a-pillars to the defroster? My condolences. The good news is that the heat in these little VWs can be quite good.ruckman101 wrote:'70 Karmann Ghia feeble heat, Maybe a small plumber's snake?
neal
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Heating Issues
Haven't explored the tubes business yet. I'll start slow, compressed air from the cabin back. Cables, flaps of the heater boxes, etc have been gone over a few times now. All seems good at the engine end.
neal
neal
The slipper has no teeth.
- DjEep
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Nowhere, Fast
- Status: Offline
Re: Heating Issues
trace it from the boxes forward.
take the tubes off between the boxes and body, run engine, feel the airflow out of the boxes.
Good? reinstall tubes. run engine, check for flow at junctions under rear seat.
Good? Block off outlets under seat, check for flow at front floor vents.
Good? Check for flow at little tubes running up to the defrost.
Where ever the flow stops, check for leaks and blockages in that section.
take the tubes off between the boxes and body, run engine, feel the airflow out of the boxes.
Good? reinstall tubes. run engine, check for flow at junctions under rear seat.
Good? Block off outlets under seat, check for flow at front floor vents.
Good? Check for flow at little tubes running up to the defrost.
Where ever the flow stops, check for leaks and blockages in that section.
"Live life, love life. Enjoy the pleasures and the sorrows. For it is the bleak valleys, the dark corners that make the peaks all the more magnificent. And once you realize that, you begin to see the beauty hidden within those valleys, and learn to love the climb." - Anonymous
Do you want to Survive? Or do you want to LIVE?
Do you want to Survive? Or do you want to LIVE?
- dtrumbo
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Mill Creek, WA
- Status: Offline
Re: Heating Issues
Shop Vac. First suck, in case there is nasty in the tubes/channels. Then put the hose on the exhaust port and blow to simulate the air your fan/heater box would otherwise provide. Now you can trace the path and hear/feel any air leaks prior to where you want the air to escape (inside the car at the appropriate vent). By sucking first, you don't blow the debris into the car or further down the line making the problem worse.
- Dick
1970 Transporter. 2015cc, dual Weber IDF 40's
1978 Riviera Camper. Bone stock GE 2.0L F.I.
1979 Super Beetle convertible.
... as it turns out, it was the coil!
1970 Transporter. 2015cc, dual Weber IDF 40's
1978 Riviera Camper. Bone stock GE 2.0L F.I.
1979 Super Beetle convertible.
... as it turns out, it was the coil!
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Heating Issues
Very important point there, Dick, for mouse nest infestations. Wear respirator filter, too.dtrumbo wrote:Shop Vac. First suck, in case there is nasty in the tubes/channels. Then put the hose on the exhaust port and blow to simulate the air your fan/heater box would otherwise provide. Now you can trace the path and hear/feel any air leaks prior to where you want the air to escape (inside the car at the appropriate vent). By sucking first, you don't blow the debris into the car or further down the line making the problem worse.
ColinTraumatizedAtLanval'sVanagon
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Heating Issues
Took off the accordian pipes, stuck the shop vac onto the channel, pulling backwards, and if the sound of the vac motor is any indication, no blockage. Stymied. No flaps at the footwell, cables are opening the exchanger flaps. Going to button it back up and puzzle some more. Air flow certainly isn't robust at idle. But Gretchen goes back to work tomorrow for Cheryle's work week. Glad we have the studs, it's been snowing all day.
neal
neal
The slipper has no teeth.
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Heating Issues
Airflow isn't robust out of the exchangers? Flaps opening in the control valves OK? Collars between front and rear exchangers are on and no leaks there?ruckman101 wrote:Took off the accordian pipes, stuck the shop vac onto the channel, pulling backwards, and if the sound of the vac motor is any indication, no blockage. Stymied. No flaps at the footwell, cables are opening the exchanger flaps. Going to button it back up and puzzle some more. Air flow certainly isn't robust at idle. But Gretchen goes back to work tomorrow for Cheryle's work week. Glad we have the studs, it's been snowing all day.
neal
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Heating Issues
Not all that robust at idle. Blowing pretty strong at driving rpms. Hopefully Cheryle will have to shut it down a bit tomorrow. Collars ok, flaps on exchangers are opening and closing. Not sure why it has been weak. Tomorrow will tell.
neal
neal
The slipper has no teeth.