Date:         Mon, 1 Feb 1999 23:24:01 -0600
Reply-To:     Scott Hall <ictalurus@WESTAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Hall <ictalurus@WESTAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: '83 wasserboxer wiring harness melted!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hey Darrell,
Am I to understand that a simple 10 amp inline fuse on the fuel injection relay will stop meltdowns on all the circuits mentioned in your post?   
Thanks,
Dan Hall
86 Westy
"Das Boot"  is still drydocked awaiting a new Bosch distributor.  Send your check or money order to Route 3 Box 97 Greensboro, AL :-)
----------
From:   Darrell Boehler[SMTP:midwesty@MIDWEST.NET]
Sent:   Monday, February 01, 1999 10:01 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: '83 wasserboxer wiring harness melted!

---------------------------
Hi Volks,
    Also be aware there is no fuse for any of the fuel injector wires, the
coil, ecu, O2 sensor, idle stabilizer, fuel pump. You develop a short
anywhere back there and it is melt down time. They tie to  plus battery
through the fuel injection relay. I developed a short in the heater to my O2
sensor last year while on vacation on my 86 westy.  Several wires melted
together in the wiring harness but I was able to repair it.  Mine now has a
10 amp inline fuse inside the little relay box above the coil. I have read
several others post about problems with shorting In the engine compartment.
Darrell

-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Walker <jwalker@TUSC.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, February 01, 1999 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: '83 wasserboxer wiring harness melted!


>i can tell you what happened on my 88 when that happened: the air
>filter box was incorrectly repositioned. yup. it seems that the
>fuel injector wires on that side of the engine can get pinched
>between the air filter box (the black plastic big box) and the
>little metal shelf (into which the air filter box sticks its
>little feet) ... after a few days/weeks of vibrating, the
>insulation on the power wires to the injectors are worn away, and
>short out to the metal of the chassis (the shelf).
>
>when this happens, the injector power relay overloads and the
>whole harness melts down. :( it was $1200 to replace the brain,
>idle stabilizer, relays, harness ... all with used junkyard
>parts. :(
>
>and it's possible that the catalytic converter glowing was a
>result of the leaned condition of the injector wiring melting.
>maybe.
>
>so everybody whose harness has NOT melted (not so fast there,
>Daniel!), get out there and check those injector wires on the
>right/passenger side of the bus ... under the air filter box.
>make sure they are not pinched by that shelf.
>
>as a note, it seems that vw was aware of this problem ... the 90
>and 91 models came with the wires cable-tied out of harm's way.
>:(
>
>joel
>