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 Herbie
Insano Dub Head
53 Bugs are not nearly enough
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 posted on November 20th, 2003 at 01:07 AM |
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Freakin Kombies and Fire, Whats whith that $h1T
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
62 Ragtop Herbie with a little extra oomph.
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Andy
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 01:19 AM |
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Man SORRY TO HEAR dude!!!!
Kombi's and fire don't mix. Sis you get home in the end?
Never would have thought of that as a cause of fire. What extinguisher did you have? Sounds fairly useless??
Hope todays a better day for you :thumb
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lugnuts
A.k.a.: Mike
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 01:29 AM |
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Man what a freak out,at least you held it together long enough to save it,but i think your theory on the fire needs more work.:o |
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DoNkEy
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 02:33 AM |
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not good...
what sorta damage did u end up with???
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robnjo
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 07:39 AM |
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thats the 2nd time this week I've heard about a vw fire from gold coast people
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Herbie
Insano Dub Head
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 08:33 AM |
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I must say, I'm pretty sure my theory is on the money.
the air coming out of the end of the heat exchanger is hot like a hot air gun and its aimed right at where the fire was,
Dont forget.... I have trailered a Kombie on the back half way across the country and that extra heat involved from towing I think would be plenty to
reep Havoc.
I'm keen to hear other theorys, because perhaps there is something I havent considered that ultimately burns the Kombie to the ground next
time.
I am sure that a bit of rubbing between insulation and body probably helped it along too.
In the long run there isnt any permanent damage, just a bit of wiring to redo but I am sure it was borderline on just going Guy Forks.
62 Ragtop Herbie with a little extra oomph.
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Andy
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 09:15 AM |
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I live in fear of these posts. Fires seem so hard to prevent (in VW’s) and I hope I’m prepared if it ever happens to me.
To help prevent fires, don’t forget you need to eliminate two things. Firstly remove any source of fuel (as in something that burn readily) like
leaking petrol, oil, rags, paper, leaves etc that may be lurking in the back. Secondly as Herbie found out any source of igniting that fuel, such as
bare wires, bad ignition, heat, anything loose etc.
As for the heater flaps that caused your problems, what I have done with Andy is to have it connected correctly to the heater channels (so the heater
works), but I have also removed the cap where the hot air comes out when the heaters aren’t on and connected a hose so that hot air is directed down
below the motor.
Andy
:thumb
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his@hervw
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 09:32 AM |
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Fire
On the suject of fire extinguishers, ask a fireman or the guy that refills them and you won't beleive the size you have to go to in relation to
having a fair chance to put out a car fire, Small one, 1.5 seconds sounds like you had a 2kg one. this is where size does count. Now you see why woman
complain, how long it lasts is importaint.:kiss
Never Rushed
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Starbug
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 10:00 AM |
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:cry sorry to hear of the flameage! but good to hear that you (and partially the kombi) got out of it in one peice! |
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LittleMissHerbina
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 11:07 AM |
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my heart was in my throat just reading th post.
I am so so sorry to hear that, sounds like you did a brillant job and acted straight away to result in minimal damage.
If you had of frozen, it may of been much worse.
My thoughts and love with you and your VW
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Kombicol
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 02:53 PM |
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I know how to prevent fires in kombis
GO WATERCOOLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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SKEWtYpe3
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 03:07 PM |
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sorry to hear
i think u saved it though so well done !
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Robo
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 04:42 PM |
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Bit of a Heart stopper that one. Thats the trouble when you get another car and you don't know its service history, I spose the moral is go over
every inch of a car when you buy it, and again when you get it home. at least I have a better idea of what size extinquisher to get now!
Rob.....
Boxer Power
Member of DMLRK.....Die Mittler Lebuns Resto Komeradschaft
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ByronBug
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| posted on November 20th, 2003 at 08:02 PM |
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:sandrine
God T what an adventurous day you had.
Sorry to hear about your kombie, but you saved your self & car well.
See you Sunday
Judy
59 Microbus Kombi (MERCY)
64 Microbus Kombi (CHANNON)
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