Date:         Mon, 22 Mar 2004 21:44:23 -0500
Reply-To:     Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Anyone in the Chapel Hill are?  (was RE: Help!  Problems on the
              road!  Smoke!  or something that smells like it, a...)
In-Reply-To:  <1de.1b621885.2d90f975@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

That would be great if it were just the heater blower fan.  I was using the
heater the whole drive (five hours).  Didn't notice it squeaking, though.

It's late and dark now, and freezing cold here in North Carolina, so I'll
have to wait till the morning to go sniff.  I have to take my bicycle to a
shop for a new tire, maybe I'll drive the van there and sniff the whole way.

Is there anyone on the list in Chapel Hill or thereabouts?  And is this
something that could be fixed with help and guidance from someone on the
list, or should I take it to a shop?  And if the latter - anyone know of a
good VW place in this neck of the woods?  (no one on the Vanagon Rescue
Squad list, alas)

I hope my whole life living in a vanagon doesn't continue the way it has
started!



Joy



  -----Original Message-----
  From: Oxroad@aol.com [mailto:Oxroad@aol.com]
  Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 9:23 PM
  To: jhecht@alum.mit.edu
  Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
  Subject: Re: Help! Problems on the road! Smoke! or something that smells
like it, a...


  I agree it sounds electrical. After checking the headlight switch and fuse
box check the front heater blower fan. This fan can sieze up and cause wires
to melt or burn. A probabile source of the smell and smoke if you were using
the heater fan and it was squeeking. If this is the source a temporary fix
could be not using the heater fan--you can still use the heat, just leave
the fan switch in the off position. Heat will still circulate without the
fan on.

  But find the problem before you get going too far because an electrical
fire is not something you want.

  Good luck
  Jeff
  83.5 Westy
  LA,CA

  In a message dated 3/22/2004 1:51:42 PM Pacific Standard Time,
jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU writes:



    pipe smoke, acrid pipe
    smoke.  (My friend whom I'm visiting thinks it's an industrial smell but
    couldn't