Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:27:25 -0800
Reply-To: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Fire!
In-Reply-To: <!&!AAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAOt/xdRkfLlAqIF53JVUnbzCgAAAEAAAAClXw/VYOJJLjlau8VUQZJcBAAAAAA==@dslextreme.com>
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Dear mobile unit
sad day indeed ... i hope your dream ride is salvageable ... and do not
worry about what insurance co will do ... it is about what you will do ...
get some honest vw experts in on the case before the insurance guy so you
understand if you have something savable
regarding fire puter outer ... try ... http://coldfirecanada.com/
your event is a reminder
.... almost happening on the third anniversary of the day we did not die (
our own family passover feast ) :)
when our T25/T3 California went for a twisty deepsi doodle off the road at
wamsutter why-owe-ming ...
the good news is manifold ...
1. we both survived with very little to no damage...
2. the T25/T3 California did its job and kept us safe in the roll over...
3. the Vanagon gerry community was very helpful in both moral and other
support ...
4. Wavey the wonder cat survived some 40 hours out in the cold... waiting
faithfully for us ... and inturn became an international news reel star for
the holiday season
5. the inlaws gave me a go westy gift cert for christmas and the envelope
had a sad face on it (i kept the envelope )
6. Lucas --at Gowesty was amazing ... he was very understanding and in
many ways visiting there a few weeks after was not unlike a visit to the
parish priest for grief counseling
7. Gifts came in the mail from Vanagon Gerry Community (thanks -- you know
who you are :) )
8. did i mention we did not die ... it was just some metal that got wrecked
... some stuff lost ...
9. we were not forced into a life of beign wheel chair bound or any other
form of disability other than what i already had
yes a fire is not nice ... woulda shoulda coulda ...
what is is more important ...
good luck with all the stuff you have to deal with along the way and
remember dick ... nothing is ever what it seems ... it may always be better
regards
On Sun, Dec 16, 2012 at 3:36 PM, Dick Wong <sailingfc@dslextreme.com> wrote:
> I'm okay.
>
> Early November I bought my first Vanagon. 1987 GL Syncro with a Audi/VW
> 2.5L I5 conversion.
>
> Today I had an engine fire.
>
> Coming to a stop on a freeway off ramp the clutch pedal goes to the floor
> without disengaging. Step on it again and same results. Van is lurching
> forward because the clutch won't release. Hitting the brake slowed it but
> I
> can feel the engine pushing forward. I shut off the ignition to bring it to
> a stop. I look in my mirrors and see smoke coming from the rear air
> intakes. I hop out in the middle of the road and run to the back hoping it
> might only be steam. No luck, it's stinky smoke and starting to turn
> black.
> I get my cell phone and dial 911. I stand there and watch flames starting
> to come from the bottom of the engine. More black smoke. I think to
> myself, I am going to watch my "new" Syncro burn to the ground. All of a
> sudden there is a loud hiss and the smoke turns to white steam and water is
> streaming from the engine. The coolant tank melted and sprayed coolant on
> to the fire and put it out. Shortly after an highway patrol pull up. A
> few
> minutes later the fire truck arrives.
>
> Not a nice day.
>
> My theory is: Clutch hose or the slave had a catastrophic failure and when
> I stepped on the clutch, the brake fluid sprayed out on to the exhaust
> piping (exhaust runs forward on the driver side). The fluid flashed and
> started burning.
>
> It's sitting in my driveway now. I'll start looking at the damages another
> day. I'm too depressed to do anything now. Fireman said that it might be
> a
> total loss.
>
> -Dick Wong-
> 78 Scirocco
> Original Owner
> 87 Syncro 2.5
> Third Owner
> 12 Golf TDI
> Original Co-Owner
>
--
roger w
From Proverbs:
Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a
servant who becomes king ...
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