[NoCmpromiz]

Just to make sure I'm thinking in the correct box, it is the defrost that doesn't work, yes?

when I switch the airflow to heat and defrost that there is heat on my legs,

If you don't roll the windows down [ ;-) ] does the interior warm up? Is there a fan speed switch and does it work? This heat and defrost setting - is that supposed to split the airflow between the heat vents on your legs and the windshield, or do you have only heat OR defrost and no combo setting? If you are getting airflow on your legs that changes in intensity with various fan speeds (warm the car up, take your gloves off, stick hand down under dash to find airflow to check) but switching to only defrost does not put that same amount of air on the windshield, or it still stays on your legs then whatever controls the air direction is messed up whether a cable or a vacuum control flap of some kind.

On one of my cars over the years the duct from the heater control to the defroster plenum came off. When I put it on 'defrost' I wasn't getting defrost, but the space behind the dash got very toasty..

check to see if there is anything like a cabin air filter, though I doubt it.

Don't know when they became more or less standard, but my 1997 Jetta has one. If my 1985 and 1991 Jetta had one I never changed it.. ;-)

the coolant that was available in Vegas is 50/50, but because of the altitude and often freezing temps at this higher elevation, I may be able to find full strength, which I prefer.

In reality, a 50/50 mix will protect you down to -34° F. That should be good since Utah isn't Alaska, but if you want to go one better a 60/40 mix will get you down to -62° and a 80/20 mix will get you down to extreme polar, er, I mean -84° (see Automotive Antifreeze Table). I use 50/50 year round. The coldest I've ever seen here is -25° F.

You really shouldn't use full strength undiluted antifreeze although finding full strength shouldn't be a problem - WallyWorld carries it in their auto section - not that it WON'T work but antifreeze by itself is a poor thermal medium. Water is a much better heat-carrying medium. This is why your mechanic will - or should if he's any kind of mechanic - recommend some sort of mixture ratio - even if he doesn't know anything about 'specific heat' and thermal absorption capabilities. Plus he won't use engineering terms to describe it either.;-)

An added plus though for buying full strength antifreeze and diluting it yourself is that it is more financially efficient (which is a high sounding way to say 'cheaper'. ;-) But then you need a place to stash the mix that you don't use right away..

[NicknamedBob]

Also if you’re going to water down your antifreeze, try to water it down with distilled water. You can get that at the drugstore and only need about a gallon.

Using distilled water for engine coolant keeps some tap water contaminants like chlorine out of your tender engine innards.

[Tax-chick]

Elen, USMC, call this afternoon with good news and dumb news. The dumb news is that she has ordered a sword from a catalog, but she's not allowed to have a sword, so it will be shipped here. It's a replica medieval longsword, not a Marines (or Knights of Columbus) ceremonial sword. The good news is that she will start her MOS training on Tuesday. The alternative was a delay of several months. The training is nine weeks, so she will almost certainly be out of Twentynine Stumps before it gets drop-dead hot.

[Monkey Face]

Yes, it’s the defrost that doesn’t work. Properly.

Yes, the interior will warm to a certain extent if the windows are not rolled down, but not so much on defrost. It will get toasty if I don’t have to use the defrost. Yes, there is a fan speed, and yes, it works. I believe (without running out in the cold with a flashlight to check) that there are five speeds.

There are also four or five settings for the heat/defrost system. Inside air, outside air, heat, heat and defrost, and defrost. It’s only in the defrost setting that I have the problem. So I’ll take the BB SUV to Casey this week and suggest what to look for. I mean, everyone needs a starting point, right?

Some things, I just carry around with me in the cargo space, since an apartment is not really the best place to store automotive fluids. This cargo space holds at least one quart of oil, “just in case,” 50/50 antifreeze, up to a case of bottled water, a roll of paper towels, emergency road kit, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, WD-40, a funnel and a few other things, all in very large tote bags.

Should I have the need to replace the rear seat back to provide for the rare passenger, all the stuff in the totes will fit between the back of the rear seat and the cargo door. It’s more convenient to leave the cargo space as is.