Date:         Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:46:38 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Engine Bay Electrical Fire
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

  I have begun pulling the burned wiring harness that is in the engine
bay out of the vehicle. What a nightmare this is going to be - replacing
the thing. I split the cover of the harness to see the extent of damage
and all those wires are burned - insulation melted and charred. Nothing
salvageable. The whole harness has to go. I haven't asked around yet
about a replacement. A couple of fine Volks have offered, but I'm not
there yet. It will be a few days. I'm planning to photograph this effort
for posterity for the list, in case anyone else ever has to do it. Out
of this effort already comes this admonition - Inspect  your engine bay
today for chafing, rubbing, vibrating, hoses, wires, etc. Be sure
nothing is touching something else unless it was intended that way. Tie
things off, add chafing strips, install plastic wraps around plumbing,
hoses and wires. You DO NOT want the trouble I've got.

I confess - in my view, the WBX engines are as close to an opposed
cylinder aircraft engine as one can get without flying. Lots and lots of
wires, hoses, plumbing, cables, etc. running everywhere. And it has all
the same hassles. All that rubbing, chafing, vibrating, cracking - same,
same. Routinely inspect your engine, same as a 50 and 100 hour
inspection on an airplane. Give it a thorough going over, write down all
the dings on a list, then go back and fix them, checking off the list
as  you go. It's the only way. Airplanes have to have an annual
inspection where the machine is brought back up to as near new as
possible once a year. It's the law. Without it - the license is not
valid. Our Vanagons need that kind of inspection as well.

John

--
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com