Date:         Sun, 16 Dec 2012 16:16:14 -0800
Reply-To:     Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fire!
Comments: To: JordanVw@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <45c7.7746307e.3dffbc04@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

My Vanagons typically have at least three.

1.) under my knees below the front seat.
2.) in the B pillar inside the slider.
3.) under the passenger's knees.

Remember to check the gauges frequently and shake 'em up every six
months or so. Dry chemical tends to pack.

Jim

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
--Albert Einstein

On Dec 16, 2012, at 4:06 PM, JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:

> every vanagon owner should carry a fire extinguisher with them in
> their
> van.    less than $25 and its worth  every penny.
>
> mount it behind the drivers seat.  or keep it under the rear
> sofabed..
>
>
>
> In a message dated 12/16/2012 6:52:05 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> sailingfc@DSLEXTREME.COM writes:
>
> 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