Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 18:57:19 -0700
Reply-To: Daniel Schmitz <djs@GENE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Daniel Schmitz <djs@GENE.COM>
Organization: Genentech, Inc.
Subject: Re: wierd cylinder under driver footwell molding(jettano vanagon)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
This is likely part of an on-board halon cabin fire extinguishing system, a
seldom-purchased (but important) safety option in 1984, right up there with
see-through headrests and retractable seat belts. I think only a handful of
US-spec Vanagons were actually sold with this feature in that year, and you may
well have one.
It was a popular option for those who tended to smoke cigarettes or cigars while
driving and accidentally dropped a lit one onto the upholstery without realizing
it. A smoke sensor (hidden inside one of the side cabin air vents in the
ceiling) would, in theory, detect the burning seat upholstery or carpeting and
activate the fire control system. It was supposed to be quicker at responding to
the smoke than the average oblivious, chain-smoking driver. A previous version
of this system (in 1983) utilized the Westfalia's water tank to supply a cabin
sprinkler system, but that approach proved less popular with the public because
it often caused the onset of dreaded Vanagon Seam Rust from the inside. And, of
course, this approach left non-Westfalia Vanagons ill protected in the event of
a fire, which obviously wasn't fair, so VW quickly switched to halon fire
systems for 1984.
If you are lucky, the system long ago lost its charge. You can probably go ahead
and impact (or incinerate) it contrary to the printed instructions, but prudence
suggests (as she often does) that you detach it from the vehicle first.
Dan
PS: I have no idea what the item in question is. Armed with that knowledge, I
wouldn't impact or incinerate it. My apologies to any and all who were offended
by the above explanation, including, of course, those in the Vanagon-driving,
oblivious, chain smoking community. And Volkswagen.
> >i was doing a clean install of my cb antenna wire
> >today, and i removed the plastic valence piece to the
> >left of the driver's footwell under the door, and to
> >my surprise, there was a black cylinder with a thick
> >cable coming out of one end and a white plastic plug
> >type deal at the other end. the cable seemed to travel
> >up the b-pillar.
> >there was a warning on the cylinder in several
> >languages, and the one in english said something to
> >the effect of do not impact this, don't incinerate,
> >dont' do anyhting else that you're not supposed to do
> >with har spray canisters.
> >
> >is this an airbag sensor? in that case, what is it
> >doing near the driver.
> >thanks in advance,
> >
> >=====
> >Sudhir Desai
> >desa4622@kettering.edu desa4622@yahoo.com
> >1984 Vanagon Z34 & 1996 Jetta Trek
> >icq# 17014903 AOL & yahoopager: rawsuds
> >
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