Today, whilest collecting My newest Kombie, A may 63 model Kombie, {so I worked out}
the Bay Camper, {HUEY} started to loose power, as he has done a few times previously in a mystery fashion.
When I noticed in the rear view mirror that there was smoke coming out from the wheel arch,
So I came to a screaming holt, half on the road, half off, because I didnt want to set fire to the dry grass on the side of the road.
Here come the flames, so real calm and casual like, {NOT} I dumped the whole contents of the obligitory VW fire extinguisher on to the point of origin, up under the Fuel tank near the Fuel filter, that took about 1.7 seconds to empty even though it was full.
This did not put out the fire, but gave me a chance to get a closer look, It was electrical, from the main thick starter motor wire.
So I casually strolled, {NOT} to the tool box to grab a shifter for the battery terminal, when I noticed the Jerry can full of fuel, so I grabbed that and raced it over out of harms way, came back to grab the shifter and then noticed the Video Camera that was worth about what the whole Kombie was worth, I took it and put it over by the jerry can, and then revelled in the new sensation of ingesting Half of the fire extinguisher contents, then got around to do the battery terminal, half expecting that when I open the engine compartment, I would be administering the much needed burst of Oxygen needed to set this baby off like new years eve, but I was wrong, Good, I thought.
So I undid the terminal and thought that was a good move, then I remembered the Other back up battery still feeding in that electricity needed to do the 12V welding to the bottom of the fuel tank, so did it too.
Got my head under the car where I could see, appart from the still burning and dripping insulation rubber, the thick wire had melted off the starter motor terminal and adhered itself to the bottom of the fuel tank where even after I had unplugged it, there was still a nice red glow like when you short out an arc welder on the bottom of the fuel tank, about the size of a 50 c piece, hell knows how big it was while it still had current feeding it!
I Grabbed the towel from within the Kombie and used it to bash and beat the flames out from the insulation off the other feeding wires.
Once this was out and I was happy it had no power to make it get upset again, I stopped and listened, I could hear Techno music, more like Speed Garage, it was distant but slowing down, it took me a bit to realise, I was hearing my heart pounding hard core.
Took a seat had a breather and then set about repairing the damage.
Now I'm pretty big on doing something once and doing it right, thats why Herbie and I can go halfway around the country at the drop of a hat with no fear, I trust him and I trust My own work.
However There are people who just dont bother with the minor details, the "If nobody sees me half tighten a nut then its as good as tight" people, And the who needs that bit, type people!
The previous owner of "Huey" was one such person I think.
My diagnosis is this..... last time he changed a fuel filter, which had 2 too many clamps on it that were both very loose, he decided not to bother putting back the heater Hose, so then Really Hot, Fresh off the exhaust air has been hard at work melting the insulation around the wires to the starter motor, The UNFUSED wires, "What could possibly go wrong?
so the insulation eventually failed and Hey presto major panic and major problem results.
I was very very lucky that The whole thing didnt go up in a big fire ball and burn me to death in the process.
So anyone who works on their own cars.... Please be thorough, tigthen clamps.... tighten nuts........realise that if a car manufacturer makes a million cars the same, you can bet they decide if they can skip bits that are "UNNESSACARY" to save even $1 per car because thats a million dollars back in their pocket, you can bet your ass they would. So if its part of the car, then Its part of the car.!!!!
So people please be carefull.
By the way, the rest of my day was marginally better.
Cheers Tony
Herbie 53 Bugs are not nearly enough
764 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·
62 Ragtop Herbie with a little extra oomph.
