Volkswagen T3 other 1990 User Manual

Vanagon Westfalia DIY Guide

Removing the Rear Heater

Tools:

• Philips screwdriver

• Small flat screwdriver

• Hose clamp pliers (or other hose clamp removal tool)

• Hose pinching tool(s)

• Rags and/or paper towels

• Container for coolant

Parts:

• 2 clean spark plugs (or similar size bolt) ~ temporary repair
Permanent removal:

• Two 5/8” straight fittings ~ permanent removal

• Bottle of new coolant (if permanently removing heater)

• 2 hole plugs (approx. 1” in diameter), or washers/bolts of
appropriate size

• New hoses and senders, if desired

Temporary Removal (1990 Westfalia shown; others may be same or similar)

Remove the cover using Philips screwdriver: 2
from the floor (red arrows), 2 from the
kickboard (yellow arrows).

Close the valve, if not already shut (move
lever towards rear of van). Put your rags into
position and pinch the top hose shut, remove
the top hose clamp, remove the top hose.
When the coolant has drained, insert spark
plug into hose, replace hose clamp, and
remove pinch tool. Repeat hose removal
process with bottom hose.

Remove the white electrical connector (yellow
arrow). Remove the two blower assembly
screws from the floor (red arrows). Note:

There is a block of wood under each bracket that
may be soaked in coolant.

Keep your rags handy and remove the rear
heater assembly, keeping the heater core’s
hose flanges up. Drain the remaining fluid
into an appropriate container and dispose of
properly. What you should now have under
the rear seat is shown above (with more or
less of a mess).

Pry off the two metal clips (red arrows)
holding the blower assembly to the duct using
a small flat screwdriver. Remove the duct.

Clean up the mess left by the leaking heater.
If the leak was really bad, and depending on
your van, you may need to remove the
wood/carpet floor for complete cleanup.

© 2013 KamzKreationz Page 1 of 2 Removing Rear Heater

Permanent Removal (1990 Westfalia shown; others may be same or similar)

After following the temporary procedure: Get
your straight fittings and tools ready and jack
the rear of the van up (place on jack stands
for safety).

Pick one of the two heater hoses (location:
above plastic pipes, right side of transmission)
and remove (by sliding them back several
inches) the two hose clamps on each side of
its T-fitting. Pinch off each hose on both sides
of said T-fitting.

Side Note:

Now would be a grand time to replace cooling
components: old hoses, temp senders, etc. I
took the opportunity to replace the temp II
sender (leaking & original!) and the crossover
hose, which was completely collapsed at the
bend (installed a spring support on new hose).

Carefully remove the main (front) heater
hoses from the T-fitting (warning: coolant
will spill out!) and insert your new straight
fitting. Remove the hose pinchers and
replace the hose clamps. Pull the rear heater
hose out (remove hose clamp and plug first,
if still in place). Drain remaining coolant.
Repeat process with second hose.

If you replaced hoses, or lost a lot of coolant

during removal, fill the system with new

coolant and bleed the system per your

preferred method (Bentley Manual, “Libby

Bong”, etc.).

Reinstall the floor screws (or seal the holes
with your preferred method). Insert hole
plugs into holes left in firewall. Above photo
courtesy of
& compression nuts.
I used metal hole plugs found at Home Depot
(requires removing the rubber grommets):

Timwhy

who used bolts, washers,

Enjoy all the new-found under-seat

storage space!

What to do with the gaping hole that’s left?
Lots of options out there (reinstall the vent, or
cut the duct off and reinstall vent, or put in a
newer auxiliary heater like a Propex, make a
cover plate, etc.), but I went with the sheet
metal cover plate route, painted gray:

© 2013 KamzKreationz Page 2 of 2 Removing Rear Heater