[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] [New Search]
That is so sad, but I guess it could have been worse if you had been on a busy highway at the time. There are some comfortable modern VWs out there - if you can put up with electric windows that don't work, alarm/immobiliser keys that cost an arm and a leg to replace, cambelts that snap and ruin your day and your engine...... I have a '99 Golf TDi Variant (Wagon) that carries what my Type 3 Variant will, and some larger things too, does around 45mpg(US) on diesel, has plenty of acceleration, and cloth seats so your legs don't get burned by the black seat (oh, so drab that black background). It's a worthy successor and very economical to run. As far as possible causes of fires in Type 3s are concerned, the following have all happened to someone at some time:- a fuel leak in the engine compartment - cold weather always brings a crop of fuel leaks as the hoses get stiffer and don't seal as well. Best not to ignore fuel smells! metal fuel pipe into engine compartment holed where it passes through the front engine cover plate - front is front) contact between the seat springs and battery + terminal. Not so common now batteries are smaller, and more of a problem in the Beetle, but best to ensure you have a cover over the terminal (preferably insulating - check the old metal covers for the pad of fibreboard on the underside). starter sticking engaged and overheating (not too common, and something sounds wrong) Other possibilities include shorting of the main current cables - where insulation has worn in holes through the metal bulkheads. Most accessory cables are well protected with fuses. Oh, not forgetting the jealous wife syndrome, I suppose! We should all try to remember to look after our partners, too. Like Jim, I would like to help spread the information about the seat of your fire, if you can pinpoint a cause or just tell us where the fire started. Dave. UK VW Type 3 & 4 Club http://www.hallvw.clara.co.uk/ ------ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list | mailto:gregm@vwtype3.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~