Date:         Mon, 27 Jan 1997 14:41:53 -0500 (EST)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         KENYON FAIREY <kfairey@oit.umass.edu>
Subject:      Re: '91 Vanagon engine fire

In response to the following:

>How do you find out if you westy has had the recall procedure done?
>
>This fire thing is really starting to get to me!!.
>
>Charles Michaux
>'91 Westy (37K)

Supposedly you can call VWoA and have they query your VIN# for known informa-
tion. If you purchased your Westy from an individual or a dealer, you should
ask them if they received a recall notice and, if so, was the work performed.

The person I purchased my Westy from just happens to be a German Stock Broker
who is not in the country very much - thus the vehicle with only 10K garaged
miles when I bought it. I have a call in to him, but he has not returned yet.

If you have ever had work done at a dealership, you can have them check the
records for you. Unfortunately I trusted VWoA to inform me if there was
anything I needed to know - that failed.

When I purchase a replacement Westy - believe you me, I WILL have my local
trusted dealership check all of the fuel related parts and replace any that
have been on recall or look worn in the least.

I too am concerned about this fire thing!

PS. The investigator did find 2 other similar reports of engine fire listed
with NTHSA as reported by the owner/investigator of 2 Westies. One was in '91
the other in '94. The one in '94 was almost identical to mine -

drove 2 miles, heard a pop (in mine the driver noticed the engine miss), and
then noticed flames coming from both wheel wells. total loss.

Perhaps there are only a few real incidents, but when it happens to you it is
VERY PAINFUL to watch your beautiful Westy burn to death and know there's
nothing you can do but cry!

-- 
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  Kenyon Fairey, Re.D.                            Adjunct Assistant Professor
  Head, Help Desk Services &          Human Dimensions of Resource Management
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  A 117, Lederle Graduate Research Center   Internet -- KFairey@OIT.UMass.EDU 
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