Date:         Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:12:02 -0800
Reply-To:     Dick Wong <sailingfc@DSLEXTREME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dick Wong <sailingfc@DSLEXTREME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fire!
In-Reply-To:  <50ce6ee2.d3763a0a.2d87.ffffa498@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Thank you everyone for your comments.

Other than some smoke stains at the two intakes and on the hatch above the
license plate door there is no visible signs of a fire on the outside of the
Syncro.

There were bits of various hoses that had fallen to the ground after be
burnt to a crisp.  Various hoses and wiring harnesses are fried.  Air
cleaner box is warped.  Coolant reservoir is warped and has one hole in it
(a coolant hose could also have burst/burned that contributed to the coolant
release, but I don't know yet).  Engine cover has some discoloration on the
interior side of the driver side with burnt away insulation on the engine
side. Rear carpet looks fine (as far as 25 year old carpet goes).

I definitely think it is salvageable.

I had not bought an extinguisher(s) yet. What size would you recommend? Can
you still buy the halon type?

Yes, no one was hurt.

Is it coincidental that I had no clutch just before the fire?  Was there a
fire brewing and I didn't notice it until I came to a stop? Did the clutch
issue cause the fire or the fire cause the clutch issue?

It looks like mostly melted parts at first glance.  The problem is that
since this is a conversion, there are non-standard Vanagon parts and there
are no list of parts/part numbers.  It's just a setback, but the cold
weather/rain doesn't encourage me to do anything right now.

I don't know if I could have put the fire out if I had an extinguisher.  I
was shaking so much.

I have heard about the "in-board" extinguishers.  They have them for power
and sailing boats too.  There are even automatic ones that pop off when a
certain temperature is exceeded.

Thanks again.

-Dick-


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Edward Maglott
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2012 5:01 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Fire!

Wow that's a weird one.  Maybe we should all put a spray nozzle on the
coolant tank with a pull cord to release coolant onto the engine in case it
catches fire.  (just kidding)  Yes, you need to have a fire extinguisher, or
3 like Jim.  It's a horrible experience to sit helpless watching your
beloved vanagon burn.  My '71 camper caught fire when the fuel line came off
the carb.  By the time my brother got back there, opened the engine hatch
and told me it was on fire, I was ready with the extinguisher.  A few
roadside repairs and we
continued our trip!   Can you tell if fire got into the interior?  As
someone else said, it may be totalled by insurance but it probably still has
a lot of value.  If not to you, to someone else looking for a project.

Edward


At 06:36 PM 12/16/2012, you wrote:
>I'm okay.
>
>Early November I bought my first Vanagon.  1987 GL Syncro with a
>Audi/VW 2.5L I5 conversion.
>
>Today I had an engine fire.
>
>Coming to a stop on a freeway off ramp the clutch pedal goes to the
>floor without disengaging.  Step on it again and same results.  Van is
>lurching forward because the clutch won't release.  Hitting the brake
>slowed it but I can feel the engine pushing forward. I shut off the
>ignition to bring it to a stop.  I look in my mirrors and see smoke
>coming from the rear air intakes.  I hop out in the middle of the road
>and run to the back hoping it might only be steam.  No luck, it's stinky
smoke and starting to turn black.
>I get my cell phone and dial 911.  I stand there and watch flames
>starting to come from the bottom of the engine.  More black smoke.  I
>think to myself, I am going to watch my "new" Syncro burn to the
>ground.  All of a sudden there is a loud hiss and the smoke turns to
>white steam and water is streaming from the engine.  The coolant tank
>melted and sprayed coolant on to the fire and put it out.  Shortly
>after an highway patrol pull up.  A few minutes later the fire truck
arrives.
>
>Not a nice day.
>
>My theory is:  Clutch hose or the slave had a catastrophic failure and
>when I stepped on the clutch, the brake fluid sprayed out on to the
>exhaust piping (exhaust runs forward on the driver side).  The fluid
>flashed and started burning.
>
>It's sitting in my driveway now.  I'll start looking at the damages
>another day.  I'm too depressed to do anything now.  Fireman said that
>it might be a total loss.
>
>-Dick Wong-
>78 Scirocco
>Original Owner
>87 Syncro 2.5
>Third Owner
>12 Golf TDI
>Original Co-Owner
-----
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