Ok. I just looked again, (never checked before!). There IS a heat shield. I stand corrected! ---

:^)

But...... I looked and now remember that I repaired an area of the thick fabric (name?) between heat shield and oil filler tube area. Maybe heat was coming up through there?

Not to worry. I soldered in new wires in place of questionable ones.

Just thought I'd post to make other air cooled owners aware of that part of harness in case theirs' was suffering a similar potential problem.

Neil.

On 3/3/08, Karl Ploessl <karl.ploessl@gmail.com> wrote: > it is (was) there! On mine ('81 AC) you can see where it is rusted off. > > Karl. > > > On 3/3/08, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Hi. > > > > I know the WBX has that shield. Pretty sure cooled Vanagons (like > > mine) don't have it. I think the engine "tin" above exhaust also > > provides protection against exhaust heat. > > > > I'm thinking the seal that goes around the engine tin, *was* the > > culprit. When I got the van, that seal had been patched in places and > > was failing. I replaced it shortly after buying the van. > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > Neil. > > > > > > > > > > On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 11:29 AM, Karl Ploessl <karl.ploessl@gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > > there is supposed to be a heat shield above the muffler. Mine was (is > > still) > > > missing. Do you still have yours? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 3/3/08, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Hi Ken. > > > > > > > > Nope. No cat. > > > > > > > > I don't know what caused it. FWIW, the section of wires in question, > > > > was above the oil filler. It was secured properly. > > > > > > > > It looks like long term wear, as the cover around the wires was hard > > > > in that section and felt crackly. This is why I had a closer look. I > > > > don't think it was subjected to a sudden "blast" of heat. > > > > > > > > Maybe just heat from the engine over time? > > > > > > > > Ah I remember now. > > > > > > > > The perimeter seal that goes around the engine tin, was hinky when I > > > > bought it. I replaced it soon after buying the van. Maybe heat was > > > > leaking up from exhaust and hitting that section of wires. > > > > > > > > Hmmmm........ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Neil. > > > > > > > > > > > > On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 9:23 AM, Ken Lewis <kdlewis@northstate.net> > > wrote: > > > > > Neil, > > > > > What do you think caused it? Was it above the catalytic converter? > > > > > Ken Lewis > > > > > http://neksiwel.20m.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > > Hi all. > > > > > > > > > > > > http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/rearwiring > > > > > > > > > > > > Like the page says. I repaired mine with solder, shrink tube, > > tape, > > > > > > tape and cover. > > > > > > > > > > > > No big deal. I'm sure others have seen it before, but thought I'd > > > post > > > > > > for those who haven't inspected the wiring in their engine bay. > > > > > > > > > > > > Cheers, > > > > > > > > > > > > Neil. > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco" > > > > > > > > > > > > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil > > > > > > http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco" > > > > > > > > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil > > > > http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Karl > > > 1981 VW Westy "Jenny" > > > 2000 VW Jetta GLS VR6 > > > Wilmington, DE > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco" > > > > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil > > http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/ > > > > > > -- > Karl > 1981 VW Westy "Jenny" > 2000 VW Jetta GLS VR6 > Wilmington, DE > -- Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco" http://web.mac.com/tubaneil http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/