Hi, Danny!
The white powder is probably corrosion products from the battery. It gets
under the heater box and down into the ducts inside the car. There are
supposed to be seals under the heater box, but they might not be in good
shape. The heater knob just operates the butterfly valve inside the heater
box intake duct to open and close the airflow through the heater core.
It's O.K. to leave it open when the car is parked. You will get some cool
air flow through there until the coolant warms up next time, though.
Steve Byers
Havelock, NC USA
'73 Midget GAN5UD126009G "OO NINE"
"It is better to remain silent, and be thought a fool
than to speak, and remove all doubt" -- Mark Twain
----------
> From: Danny Rendleman <dannyr@flint.umich.edu>
> To: spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
> Subject: heater
> Date: Sunday, October 25, 1998 12:22 PM
>
> Thanks for the kind words, all. Now, Until I Get My Own Manual
> (hereafter to be known as UIGMOM): Loved One and I just got back
> from a great autumn drive. Started out surprisingly warm, then got
> downright chilly. Loved One smart enough to bring a sweater. Not
> me. So, on our way back, thought it'd be a good time to try out the
> heater for the first time. Worked great--except for blowing out some
> white dust all over my side of the car. Two questions: what could
> that stuff be (don't tell me asbestos)? And is it OK to leave the
> heater knob turned on or need it be turned off when the car is
> parked?
>
> Hope your weekend was a fine one.
>
> Danny
> 74 Midget
> GAN5UE153226G
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