Date:         Wed, 22 Dec 1999 15:32:59 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Organization: The Cobalt Group
Subject:      Re: Help: the VW morons spilled brake fluid on my electrical
              wiring...
Comments: To: d t <tinkerman@USA.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

d t wrote:
>
> 1. How damaging is the brake fluid to wiring, contacts, relays, fuses, circuit
> boards, etc. (short and long term).

I spill this stuff regularly since I am a klutz.  It won't hurt anything
but paint. Get a can of Brakleen brake cleaner at your FLAPS and spray
the s**t out of your wiring and under dash area.  Put lots of newspaper
on top of a plastic sheet underneath the area.  This will take care of
it.  (Do this outside, and don't breath too much in.  Let the van air
out for an hour before driving.)

> 2. Did they give the problem the proper treatment (I thought a proper
> treatment would be to wash up everything with a fast drying fluid such as
> alchohol, white gasoline, etc.)?

Do the above, carb cleaner stinks for a long time, the Brakleen is very
volatile and will dissapate quickly. You don't want to use flammable
fluids for this, and water with a little detergent will clean the
floor.  You may want to vacuum steam clean the carpets.

> 3. Shouldn't they have placed a soaking rag/paper towel underneath (on the
> floor) to avoid floor paint damage?

Of course, and plastic too!

> 4. What would you do in my situation?

Fuggetaboudit and do it myself next time, but you need to find a new
mechanic.

> 5. Am I just sounding a false alarm?...:-)

Don't worry about it!
>
> Thank's for any suggestions.
>
> cheers,
>           Amnon
>
> Cheers,
>             T-man
>
> ____________________________________________________________________
> Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1

--
Stuart MacMillan
Manager, Case Program
800-909-8244 ext 208

Getting your share of the Net yet?
http://www.cobaltgroup.com
http://www.casedealer.com/demo
http://www.caseihdealer.com/demo