Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2003 10:16:53 -0800
Reply-To: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject: Re: Yesterday's Engine Fire in Rockefeller Center NYC
In-Reply-To: <Pine.GSO.4.44.0312181043450.8980-100000@neota>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
At least in Canada, some our vans were recalled for poor fuel lines.
The last two Transporters (1986 and 1987) that I sold to the USA got their
fuel lines replaced, for free, under a VW recall. Before a vehicle goes to
the USA we need a letter from a VW dealer stating that free from open
recalls.
Give your dealer your VIN number and ask them to check to see if all recalls
have been done. It's free. Heck one of these transporters was a non runner
to begin with!
Just so that you know, my friends 1996 Dodge Pickup suddenly burst into
flames on the side of the highway - cracked fuel line. The vehicle was a
total loss. Not just VW Vanagons that are doing this.
David Marshall
Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
- Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
- Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation
- European Lighting for most Volkswagen models
Due to the large volume of email we receive, PLEASE include previous
emails when responding. This will allow us to read the complete dialogue
in one message and will result in quicker and more accurate responses.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Andrew Fox
Sent: December 18, 2003 9:53 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Yesterday's Engine Fire in Rockefeller Center NYC
Horrible story. I must say I dont think it is your fault that your van
caught on fire. I mean the vehicle is only 13 years old, 13 YO vehicles
should not burn up in flames like that. VW is obviously to blame, our
vans should have been recalled for bad fuel lines, faulty HG design,
failing oil cooler seals, amoung many others. VW is a really horrible
company that does not care about its customers. Their products are made
to be "cool" and "fun" but beyond that they are crap. This story just
illustrates that reality.
On Wed, 17 Dec 2003, robertmstewart wrote:
> So yesterday 12.16.03 at 5:30pm I pick up my 89 Carat Vanagon with
150,000
> miles on it from the garage in NYC. Like always it starts right up and
> drives great, 10 minutes later while listening to my new Little Feat CD
> ³time loves a hero² we pull past the Rockefeller center area where the big
> Christmas tree is and thousands of tourist visiting the tree and the city.
>
> I then hear a voice and turn around itıs a Police officer screaming at my
> girlfriend and I that there is smoke coming from the engine!
>
> I scream out at her to turn the engine off and jump out of the van, in
> seconds grabbing the fire extinguisher behind the drivers seat.
>
> I run to the back of the van to see ³dark black smoke² billowing out of
rear
> drivers side of the van near the oil filter, I crawl down on the cement
> floor of the street and see 6² round sheets of flaming liquid, gas or oil
is
> dripping from the center front of the engine, closer to bumper area.
>
> I then aim the extinguisher at the fire area and hit it, the extinguisher
is
> out in 8 seconds! I canıt believe it!... I try again but itıs dead! I just
> purchased the unit in July so it was new and had a full charge. I was
blown
> away that this automotive extinguisher would last such a short time.
>
> So I see this Police officer stand 10ı away and hit the vanıs outer body!
I
> am thinking to myself why is he doing this? I scream out at him to hand
it
> to me, but he then says that itıs out! I ask if any of the 5 Police
> officerıs have any other extinguishers, he says no.... I am absolutely in
> shock at this point. The middle of Rockefeller center with no fire
> extinguishers! What would they do if there was small local fire I am
> thinking!?
>
> So I am told by the police to Get back!, Get Back! As I am in complete
> amazement and shock as I slowly watch the small flame become bigger and
> grow, my blanket and sleeping bag in the back in the rear of van sitting
on
> top of the foam engine pad all start to catch, the entire fire is on the
> drivers side rear of the van where the oil filter is. It grows up the side
> of the van, than melts the interior and exterior vent, and then the ac
unit
> melts off, and drops down, but that catches the rest of the vanıs interior
> and it just goes, and goes till there is nothing left... Every piece of
> foam, seating material, the steering wheel, even part of the dash and most
> of body panels are melted off.
>
> The Fire Department finally arrives and puts out the fire with their
hoses,
> axes out all of the windows and it just sits in a smoldering smoking dark
> water bath scented by burnt toxic plastic.
>
> I am interviewed by 2 detectives, they take take my address, and name, ask
> to see my license and ask if there is anything explosive in the van? I
tell
> them just a can engine degreaser that I could hear popped but was no big
> boom. Then I talk to someone from Rockefeller Center Security, and then 2
> other Police officers, then all of a sudden I see a video camera in front
of
> me and two people with press passes hanging on their neck. Itıs a major
> Japanese news network and they interview me about what happened and video
> tape the vanıs burning and water dousing. Finally I speak to the Fire
> department and I am able to fish out of the rubble my original Vanagon
> silver pouch with my registration and insurance info to give to Fire
> Department captain.
>
> The Police tell me they are towing the van several blocks away, from their
> itıs my responsibility to get it taken away to salvage yard. So my
> girlfriend and I walk following the van as it is slowly dragged while in
> park, down 5th Ave past Saks fifth avenueıs famous Christmas window. I am
> walking in the street following the van and then loose it. I go home and
my
> girlfriend calls the police to find itıs location several times, we
> eventually find it, and I start calling salvage companies to pickup the
> vehicle to take to junk yard. I finally get one of them to come and pick
up
> the van for $75 dollars. I go and meet the truck and they tell me they
canıt
> take it itıs to badly damaged. So today a day later, I finally found
someone
> to take it, the operator says to me... ³Yeah I know this van, I have
picked
> up 3 of them this year... You have bad fuel line that leaked right?² I
> say... ³I think so but I donıt know.². He then tells me that itıs little
> known fact that the fuel lines go on these vans and most early VWıs. I
take
> some photoıs of the toasted vehicle and say goodbye to my beloved 89 Carat
> that for the 6 months that I owned her brought me so much driving joy and
> happiness, camping in it and making wonderful country summer journeys, I
> then decide not to watch him pull off but to walk away and not look back.
I
> know sheıs gone and my VW dream is gone.
>
> I had spent 5 years looking for that Blue Carat van, and had it shipped
from
> Florida to NY.
>
> http://www.homepage.mac.com/rmstewart
>
> (see photoıs of the van and the toasted carat)
>
> So thatıs my long winded story, sorry if it bored you, maybe it even
> entertained you. I learned some lessons, but now my girlfriend tells me
she
> does not want me to buy another one cause of the fire so I will look for
> something else, not sure what. Maybe one day I will get another and next
> time put on steel braided fuel lines (if thatıs possible).
>
> Thank you to everyone on the list for your years of advice, and wealth of
> knowledge. Eventually when I have some time I plan on signing off the list
> but until then thanks again for everything.
>
> Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all.
>
> Robert
> 89 Carat Toasted
> NYC
>
| 
