Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 23:48:13 -0500
Reply-To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: Fire!
In-Reply-To: <!&!AAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAOt/xdRkfLlAqIF53JVUnbzCgAAAEAAAADxt/EMUdLhDkwagEuk6FkQBAAAAAA==@dslextreme.com>
Content-type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Regarding the "total loss": Insurance companies judge a total loss, by, will it cost more to fix, than the vehicle is/was worth. Vanagons (Westfalias especially, but also syncros) tend to be undervalued by insurance companies. I don't know what you paid for yours, but if you can show the insurance company the prices on recent sales of comparable vehicles, you likely do not have a total loss. Close, but you were very lucky. The engine will need to be pulled. The long block might be salvagable, but being as that is (I believe) a South African engine, getting replacements for it might be tricky.
You'll want to get some paint on the fire scorched metal, so that it doesn't rust up too much more. You don't show any photos from below, and that's were the fire apparently started. As I recall on that engine, the alternator is below and on the left (drivers side). An accident investigator may discover a wiring short on the wiring from the alternator to the starter (which then continues on to the battery.
Considering that the rubber gasket on the engine cover isn't even badly damaged, I'd say you were very lucky. I am a little puzzled though, as I recall on that engine the distributer sits up enough that it would hit the engine cover. Maybe on this installed, they lowered the engine mounts a half inch more to accomodate this?
On Dec 22, 2012, at 10:34 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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