T3: Heater Woes

[Patty and Bob Couse-Baker <c-b@pacbell.net>]

Four stupid questions:

1.  Is there any way to "test" heater boxes, short of asphyxiating one’s
self? Mine smell kind-of funny, but blow hot air.

2.  Can a bad exhaust system contribute a funny smell from the heater? I
did the John Muhr test … shove a rag against the exhaust while the
engine is running, and I heard "pist-pist-pist" from under the car,
indicating an exhaust leak someplace in the system.  Oh, perhaps I
forgot to mention the oil cooler leaks, so like the whole engine is
covered with oil (perhaps negating the hole notion of fresh-air hose for
the heaters).

3.  Is there anyone who refurbishes heater boxes?

4.  Do all VW heaters smell funny?

Bob Couse-Baker
Auburn, Calif.