Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 01:08:44 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Fire!
In-Reply-To: <50D69AF8.8060505@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
thnank you.
On 12/22/2012 9:47 PM, JRodgers wrote:
> Here is a tiny URL for this.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/c77869z
>
> John
>
> On 12/22/2012 9:34 PM, Dick Wong wrote:
>> Added some more pictures today.
>>
>>
>>
>> <https://plus.google.com/photos/109269280604562976036/albums/582316564680081
>>
>> 9169?authkey=CKyk1tixnrXNDw>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -Dick Wong-
>> 78 Scirocco
>> Original Owner
>> 87 Syncro 2.5 (slightly crispy)
>>
>> Third Owner
>>
>> 12 Golf TDI
>>
>> Original Co-Owner
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Dick Wong [mailto:sailingfc@dslextreme.com]
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 7:18 PM
>> To: 'vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM'
>> Subject: RE: Fire!
>>
>>
>>
>> Here are some pictures. Both links are to the same site.
>>
>>
>>
>> Fire pictures.
>> <https://plus.google.com/photos/109269280604562976036/albums/582316564680081
>>
>> 9169?authkey=CKyk1tixnrXNDw>
>>
>>
>>
>> https://plus.google.com/photos/109269280604562976036/albums/5823165646800819
>>
>> 169?authkey=CKyk1tixnrXNDw
>>
>>
>>
>> -Dick Wong-
>> 78 Scirocco
>> Original Owner
>> 87 Syncro 2.5
>>
>> Third Owner
>>
>> 12 Golf TDI
>>
>> Original Co-Owner
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Dick Wong [mailto:sailingfc@dslextreme.com]
>> Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2012 3:37 PM
>> To: 'vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM'
>> Subject: Fire!
>>
>>
>>
>> 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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