Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 15:33:27 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Re: Fire Suppression Solutions
In-Reply-To: <000001c47978$992f3220$6400a8c0@LIBERTY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Dave, don't let paranoia overtake reason.
1) These vehicles are getting old and maintenance is going to be at a
higher rate.- both in frequency and dollars.
2) Parts are getting old, and parts that deteriorate are surely past, at
or nearing their life limit. - Gotta replace them, preferably as
preventive maintenance rather than after the fact of failure -
ESPECIALLY fuels line (No 1) and Coolant Lines (No 2) and Brake Lines
(No 3). After those three in that order of importance, not much else
will immediately threaten your life, your loved ones or your Van.
3) Fuel lines are a critical issue because of the fire potential. But
don't lay it on just the Vanagons. I watched a brand new Buick burn to a
crisp in a restaurant parking lot one day at lunch. Something went wrong
under the hood on startup, a spark ignited some wayward gasoline and the
thing virtually exploded into flame. When the owner started the engine
there was a large muffled "WHUMP" and the hood bowed (didn't pop loose)
and smoke and flame boiled out all over. So it is not just Vanagons.
Most of our fire problems come from poor maintenance.
Now that you are an owner - the responsibility is yours and no one else
- to see to it that the maintenance is brought up to speed so you don't
have problems. If you have a fire tomorrow, it's your fault!!! You
didn't research your vehicle to find out all the little nuances of the
machine and deal with them BEFORE putting it on the road. To follow that
course is really your own negligence.
BE SMART!! Ask questions on this list. Read the Bentley. LOOK at the
vehicle very carefully, not superficially. Open your engine hatch, have
a fire extinguisher handy, have your Honey turn the ignition to the "On"
position but DO NOT start it. Listen for the fuel pump to come on and
pressurize the fuel lines. Look - REALLY LOOK - for wet spots on the
fuels lines and injector hoses. Use a good flashlight so you can really
see. On the firewall in front of the engine, sort of to the right of
center is a plastic fitting with a fuel hose hooked to it. Inspect that
carefully. Then feel the hose and fitting in front of the firewall. If
there is any wetness at all you have a hose change immediately in front
of you. Don't try to go anywhere before it's fixed. Look at that
connection with an inspection mirror if you can.
One of the best and safest moves you can make on a Vanagon/Westy if it
is new and strange to you is to replace ALL those fuel hoses in the
engine compartment. As an added safety measure to protect the interior
just in case a disaster does occur, is to replace the engine hatch with
an earlier metal type. The polymer models will burn, the metal won't so
there is some measure of protection.
Check the front flex brake lines. They are notorious for rubbing and
getting a hole worn in them.
Check your coolant hoses carefully. If you don't know when they were
changed, change them now.
I have had three VW vans. One a 68 model, later an 85 GL and now an 88
GL. All were not without problems, but they were good vehicles and gave
good service as long as I saw to it that maintenance was up to snuff. I
don't think there is another vehicle on the road today that matches the
Vanagons general usefulness. I know for my purposes it's the only van on
the road today for me. The way I keep my van up, I suspect I will wear
out and go to the bone yard long before it does.
Give it good maintenance, and lots of TLC, and enjoy your vehicle
relatively trouble free.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
David J. Bohannan wrote:
>Ok, there has been enough talk on this subject to make me so totally
>paranoid about driving this vehicle that I fear for my kid's lives!!!
>
>First thing,
>
>Is there an "official" set of hoses that can be replaced? I haven't
>looked too far under the hatch to see just how long the lines are. From
>what I saw, they had some pretty odd looking clamps on them...if an OEM
>or better than OEM were available, I would want to buy those...
>
>Second,
>
>How often do these lines need to be replaced? I know that just because
>mine has 143K on the clock and its new to me (put just about 1K miles on
>her) I am inclined to change as much that should be replaced up
>front....
>
>Third,
>
>How safe ARE these vehicles!?!??! According to that one web story (can't
>believe everything you read I spose) the tow truck driver had picked up
>3 in like one week!?!? Is it a ticking time bomb? Has VW said anything
>about this?
>
>Ok, rant over...I need someone to assure me that my new acquisition is
>not going to torch my family...I am very willing to do the recommended
>maintenance and believe it is the most important part of keeping any
>vehicle safe...but I also wonder about these guys you hear about that
>have never done an oil change, just add oil...never look at anything
>under the hood and have 300K on the clock...how do they get away with
>it!!?!??!?! (they must not have a vanagon...or jeep for what that's
>worth)
>
>Dave
>85 Vanagon GL
>85 Jeep XJ
>86 Minnie Winnie
>85 Pace Arrow
>93 Ford E150
>
>
>
