Date:         Sat, 17 Jan 2004 17:45:01 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Freeman <rdfreeman@MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Freeman <rdfreeman@MSN.COM>
Subject:      Danger from the cold
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

 I took my '91 Westy up into British Columbia after xmas for a week of skiing.  One night when temps were about -20C I was driving down into town for dinner (Rossland BC) and the car was stalling on me.  I managed to get it to a parking space near where I was going, but when I came out after it wouldn't start again.  I tried several times and it would catch and run for a bit and then die.  I guessed that there might be water in the fuel line that had frozen.  Then I smelled fuel.  Got out and looked under with a flashlight and sure enough, drip drip drip.  I just left it there and walked back to where I was staying.  Next day was sunday so no getting it fixed then.  Monday morning I had it towed to a local garage.  He found the fuel line had split near where it enters a valve near the firewall.  He cut off the bad part and reattached it with a clamp.  All he could do at the time.  I will get all the lines replaced soon though.  Nearly had a vehicle flambe.  The lesson is if you have not replaced your fuel lines in the last 5 years, there is no time like now.  By the way, the car started easily and ran great otherwise, but I sure had a hard time getting it to warm up in that cold.  We drove in all our ski clothes most of the time.  

Bob Freeman
Seattle