Date: Sat, 6 Jun 1998 20:03:05 -0700
Reply-To: marcus <marcus46@FREEWWWEB.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: marcus <marcus46@FREEWWWEB.COM>
Subject: Harness melt down and Vanagon on fire
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I join this group a few weeks ago looking for answers as to why my
1983.5 caught on fire as I was driving in heavy traffic. I was able to
quickly put it out but not befor it took out the entire fuel injector
wiring harness. I had noticed that the coil wire was fused to the
harness and that was the cause of the fire. well it wasn't. the problem
was a bad oil filler tube and the fact that VW has the harness just
laying on top of the tin muffler guard. Now for the whole story.
After having the van towed home I got on the net and type in Vanagon.
Some how I got to Lyle Wade's site.He had the harness and told me about
Vanagon.com.Few days later got the harness and in a couple hours the
harness was in place and the van was running.But the harness seem to me
to be just too hot after the van had warmed up but until this problem I
never touched the harness to see how hot it was.Thats when I looked at
the old harness again. Pulled the coil wire away from the harness and
realized they were fused because of the melted rubber. So now have
another harness but no answer to what caused the fire. Got a lot of
ideals and help from the list. and want to thank you all especially
Joel. Still no for sure answers I took van on 12 mile tour with escort
of coure.As the van warmed up it started to stall and then would surge
forward as nothing was wrong. It kept on doing this all the way home.
This the same way it acted just befor the fire.Checked engine and the
harness was real hot and I could smell burnt oil. After closer
inspection of the oil filler tube I found it had been shooting tiny
drops on oil on the muffler shield.This tube looked like it was in a dog
fight and lost big time.why I don't know. I couldn't get the tube to
seal no matter how much I tighten the clamp. If you think a loose oil
tube can't cause the problems I had while driving try this start your
van and remove your oil cap for a couple seconds. Your van will go nutso
as Joel put it.Now here is my theory how the fire started.Tin shield
above muffler gets hot ,oil shoots from oil tube and lands on shield.
Fire starts and burns harness, wires inside harness short and now the
entire harness is gone. I have removed both harness from the tin muffler
shield and have tied them above the overflow tank . I think it was crazy
for VW to have the wires touching the shield in the first place. I drill
two holes in motor cover lip to be able to tie these harness off. My
muffler is the orginal and could be wearing out but It doesn't sound
like it and can't feel or see any holes.
Seems that theory didn't hold water.Replaced oil tube,heat sensor,air
cleaner,idle stabilizer and flushed coolant. I am the orginal owner and
it has 176k.117k this engine.While flushing coolant noticed small leak
in right gasket.Only at cold.Van run good until the tem needle get to 12
oclock.Then it starts acting the same way as it did befor the
fire.Hesitation,then surge and it did this all the way home.Check engine
and harness is hot and oil smell.I'm afraid this van is going to catch
on fire again.Any ideals
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