Former VWDieselParts.com Forum

I ended up getting the heater motor that I posted a pic. The fun part will be installing it...I thought (and was incorrect) that I could "simply) sneak it via the top....NOPE. I guess I have to pull the whole heater plenum/box from the INSIDE just to install it....or am I way off on this (my shop manual is at a friends).

Does the car have A/C?

If not the blower is directly accessible below the rain tray if I recall correctly. If an A/C car there is a cover over the blower under the rain tray and I think it has nuts/bolts that protrude through into the underside of the dash. Also (at least on the US made Rabbits) if you have the /C setup that cover is sealed in with caulk that needs to be peeled off. OPen the hood, remove the plastic rain tray, and see what you have under there.

No A/C and the rain cover is missing. Actually, even the blower assembly is missing. I can see the wires and the heater core. Previous owner took it out and tried to wire a 12V computer fan......

Like I said, the pic of the blower assembly is what I ordered and showed. Not sure if I can squeeze it between the cowling and such to put it into place.....

I think you have to remove the wiper assembly to fit it in there,
I might be wrong.

Fatmobile wrote:I think you have to remove the wiper assembly to fit it in there,
I might be wrong.

I'll look at it during Christmas break....the joys of working for a school. Hope I can "squeeze" it in there or something..... be nice to drive it...granted my daily drive (one way) is 5.5 miles to work. Kind of abusing for any vehicle, especially during cold weather, let alone for a diesel!!!

Odd question- if one wanted to plumb an engine coolant heater and didn't want to use the freeze plug type (but the canister type) where would you get the cold supply from? Seems like the one of those small "bypass" hoses is way low.... Or would it be easier to get a magnetic type and stick it on the block near the dip stick (if there is room, don't recall....)

I installed the bypass hose type and it works well. If I recall it's a one inch hose, cut about an inch out of the bypass hose and install the heater. Cost about $30 or so if I remember. I run of off a timer for 3 hours before I go to work. The bypass hose is the nearly vertical one running from the cylinder head flange down to the water pump, adjacent to the dipstick.

bscutt wrote:I installed the bypass hose type and it works well. If I recall it's a one inch hose, cut about an inch out of the bypass hose and install the heater. Cost about $30 or so if I remember. I run of off a timer for 3 hours before I go to work. The bypass hose is the nearly vertical one running from the cylinder head flange down to the water pump, adjacent to the dipstick.

Ah! Forgive me, but I am not that familiar w/ all the hoses. Took a look this morning and that IS a PERFECT location. Just put it right above the "bend". And for myself, I have to replace that hose (and a few more) along w/ the water pump! So I'll do it when I get the chance!!!!

Looked up sizes, KATS 400watt (#14400) is 1", 500watt (#14500) is 1 1/4". Found a PDF application catalog and you are correct, it is 1" and it lists it for that spot.

Thank you!

LOL. Well, didn't get all my stuff ordered before Christmas, so the idea of working on the Rabbit during break didn't pan out. Just got the Kat's heater today.

Yeah it seems that plans that involve cars are hard to make happen this time of year. I have been trying to start my '41 and get my garage cleaned out for a couple of days. Progress has been much slower than my "plan". at least I had a plan which is better than most of these endeavors.
Good luck with your plan!

Well, I'm working on anther vehicle I just got . Ran fine when I drove it 200 miles/3hrs. But got a gremlin that came up after driving around here for a day or two. It's another diesel, a 94 Chev 2500 w/ 6.5L TD.....runs but dies....randomly. At least with it, I'm working on it laying over the engine. The Rabbit, well, have to change the water pump....I'd be under it....its parked for the time being. Be a good summer rig (heater doesn't work).

And we do this for fun, right?
Yeah the Chevy 6.2 and 6.5 had a history of pump problems but sounds like fuel starvation or fuel shutoff solenoid dying or losing power. Maybe rig an LED to the solenoid power wire and put it somewhere you can see while driving to see if you are losing electrical signal to the pump. Anyway good luck with it. I am familiar with lying across the engine, I have an F150 that is fun to work on from ground level.

As for the Rabbit, I would be tempted to rig up a heater core, 12v fan from a computer power supply, and run hoses somehow.

bscutt wrote:And we do this for fun, right?
Yeah the Chevy 6.2 and 6.5 had a history of pump problems but sounds like fuel starvation or fuel shutoff solenoid dying or losing power. Maybe rig an LED to the solenoid power wire and put it somewhere you can see while driving to see if you are losing electrical signal to the pump. Anyway good luck with it. I am familiar with lying across the engine, I have an F150 that is fun to work on from ground level.

As for the Rabbit, I would be tempted to rig up a heater core, 12v fan from a computer power supply, and run hoses somehow.

My F150 needs an engine (have it, but shops not heated, friend has heated shop and another friend owes me for something). Might have the one who owes me put the "rebuilt" engine I have in using the others heated shop.

Yup, already on tracking the gremlin on that 6.5. Being a 94, it has that dang electronic box (know as PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER or Fuel Solenoid Driver- PMD/FSD) mounted on the IP. Research says that usually it is the issue 80-90% of the time. Drove it to town today, no issues, but it had been sitting for two days in the cold....replacement PMD is on the way...truck cost me just shy of $1300 via online auction. It's diesel and has A/C

Rabbit, I'll change all the hoses if I'm draining the cooling system to change water pumps. If I get "bold" I might change the fan motor too. The replacement I got looks as if it has to be installed from inside. My repair manual is a a friends, so I can't look it up. Fan motor and housing on the replacement is one unit, not the motor/cage I see. Can't just sneak it via engine compartment....

Well good luck with all that. Thankfully all my licensed vehicles are all operating well so I can concentrate on the garage cleanout. The 41 Chevy is now running after I installed the rebuilt carb I forgot I had on it. Note to self: 30 year long projects tend to make you forget what parts you have accumulated and finding them is like Christmas.