Date:         Mon, 1 Feb 1999 22:01:00 -0600
Reply-To:     Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: '83 wasserboxer wiring harness melted!
Comments: To: Joel Walker <jwalker@TUSC.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

---------------------------
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
>