Date:         Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:01:03 -0400
Reply-To:     John Meeks <vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Meeks <vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Wire fire in the Engine Room
Comments: To: Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CA+Spi21U2WzNm2RR-DQtJzB6-+Wv53Gjrb0BMDdor+gZtJzCnQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 2:18 PM, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com> wrote:

> John,
> That really sucks - I am sorry to hear about it. ANy idea of the source
> yet?



Hi Jeff and all ~

After cleaning up the mess and inspecting the burned insulation, my best
guess is one of the MagneCor ignition wires may have arced through to the
engine, igniting it's insulation. The resulting fire seems to have burned
off the insulation from the B+ lead from the alternator to the AC
compressor starting a series of shorts to ground all around the engine.
Melted off the ICV vacuum line and the fuel pressure reg. vacuum line too.

This is just a WAG, there's no way to really tell what happened. I had done
no inspection of the engine since placing my winter load of sand and salt
bags above the engine lid. Bad idea...

John Meeks
'91 Vanagon MV
Northern Michigan

Vanagon Rescue Squad
www.vanagonauts.com