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Sun Sep 24, 2006 1:52 pm

The fuel line coming from the tank to the fuel pump burst right on to the distributor. It was totally my fault. I changed out all of the lines except that one. I dont know why just totally forgot that one. DUH right? Any way, the onlly damage was to the cap, condensor, wires, and another fuel line. got her running this morning : ) I already have another extinguisher in the car. I was just happy I didnt have my 4 year old in the car at the time. I would have had to take the extra time to get her out of her car seat. As it was I had two passengers with me that I had to yell at to "GET OUT OF THE FREAKIN CAR" :) Anyway, all good now. Only about $60 in damage, no biggie considering.

Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:04 pm

You're lucky... :wink:

Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:52 am

Another Bug killer is the UNFUSED black wire from fuse block to the coil.

A lose coil can slip, short to ground and start a fire anywhere along that side of the car.

Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:14 pm

My '68 bug had a leaky fuel pump in 1972 when I was in college, but I didn't have the $$$ to get a new one that day. I tightened all the screws, was going to get a new one the next day (Election Day 1972) but it stalled out and when I looked in rear mirror I saw flames. I got a 1970 bug instead, still have that one; it had the brass fitting come out partially from the fuel pump one day but enough fuel was getting through to my Weber to drive normally. I did smell some gas, figured it was from someone else, drove 5 more miles home. When I got home, there was liquid gasoline everywhere, all over the engine, even the distributor, didn't have a clue why it didn't catch on fire. Since the engine was hot, I just let it sit until it all evaporated, then I pounded the brass tube back in and rigged up a safety wire simialr to what Glenn did on his carb inlet. I formerly had a glass-cylinder fuel filter, but particles from it would come off and clog my Weber's idle jets, so now I use the plastic type. In Arizona, BAP sells the woven-type fuel lines and other VW parts.

Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:44 pm

In my experience my Beetle caught fire when I was welding on it. I had a leaky master cylinder years ago, and residual brake fluid caught on fire while welding the front end back together. (I had removed all the carpet, mats etc) Carpet, tarboard, undercoating, etc. are all very flammable.

Be careful welding, you won't see or feel the fire through your mask and protective gear!

These smal fires are generally blown out with compressed air, but my father shot it with a powder type fire extinguisher, I am still tring to get yellow dust out of every little nook and cranny in that car. But the new front end was worth it...

Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:32 pm

WaterboysSuper71 wrote: How susceptible is a Beetle to catching on fire. Every once in awhile I run across a story in the forum that ones Beetle caught fire. Is this a common problem? What can be done to help prevent a fire from occuring :?:

I've got this advice from other people: Never lock your engine compartment when you're driving so that you can always use your fire extinguisher to put fire off. Imagine your engine catches fire and you cannot open the engine lid!!! :twisted:

Sat Nov 18, 2006 3:50 pm

Hokaido wrote: I've got this advice from other people: Never lock your engine compartment when you're driving so that you can always use your fire extinguisher to put fire off. Imagine your engine catches fire and you cannot open the engine lid!!! :twisted:

Who locks their engine lid? I havent since my 74 was new.

Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:19 pm

....they came with locks ?

Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:24 am

Hokaido wrote:
I've got this advice from other people: Never lock your engine compartment when you're driving so that you can always use your fire extinguisher to put fire off. Imagine your engine catches fire and you cannot open the engine lid!!! :twisted:
Never heard anyone talk about it before but it is good advice. If mine is locked I always unlock it before driving. For the reason you mentioned.

Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:39 pm

i had my bug lite up once... it was an electrical fire caused by a short in the headlight circut... it burned my blue fur on my dash, and melted all my sterio wires... check all your circuts at the fuse terminals.. it'll save you the re-wiring headache i had

Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:20 am

theblueblack71 wrote: ... it burned my blue fur on my dash,,,,,

Got any pics of that dash?

Sorry, Glenn, I couldnt resist.

Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:00 pm

i dont have picstures of it on fire.. but i got pictures of my fuzzy dash

Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:30 pm

I was at a local performance shop and found this fuel filter and decided to buy it for my new engine. It's a Mr. Gasket filter with 5/16" barbed inlet/outlet. It's looks pretty sturdy and was around $8.

Mr. Gasket 9745

Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:57 pm

Glenn wrote: I was at a local performance shop and found this fuel filter and decided to buy it for my new engine. It's a Mr. Gasket filter with 5/16" barbed inlet/outlet. It's looks pretty sturdy and was around $8.

Mr. Gasket 9745

8) Looks good,Glenn. I'm running the same filter on my '76 bug. It's mounted next to the gas tank as I'm using an electric fuel pump on the 2110cc .

Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:46 pm

I just found another quality filter. This one has 1/4" fittings so it will fit on the stock 5.5mm fuel line. It's got a steel can and filters down to 10 microns. It's for a Toro lawn tractor, so you'll have to get it at the local lawn equipment store.

Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:40 pm

Glenn wrote: I just found another quality filter. This one has 1/4" fittings so it will fit on the stock 5.5mm fuel line. It's got a steel can and filters down to 10 microns. It's for a Toro lawn tractor, so you'll have to get it at the local lawn equipment store.

Glenn,

Will you post the numbers on that filter, or the type of tractor it fits, I can't quite read everything in the picture.

Thanks

Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:57 am

from the engine forum...

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/326729.jpg

tighten your nuts and bolts kiddies...

I looked this morning and the bolt on the side of the float bowl was missing.
I doubt it melted in the fire...

[img]http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/326729.jpg

[/img]

Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:36 am

cadaddy wrote: from the engine forum...

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/326729.jpg

tighten your nuts and bolts kiddies...

I looked this morning and the bolt on the side of the float bowl was missing.
I doubt it melted in the fire...

8)I agree with Cadaddy. Be sure and include a fuel system preflight every time you stick your head under the hood. :wink:

Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:32 am

Glenn wrote: I just found another quality filter. This one has 1/4" fittings so it will fit on the stock 5.5mm fuel line. It's got a steel can and filters down to 10 microns. It's for a Toro lawn tractor, so you'll have to get it at the local lawn equipment store.

The only reservation I would have about this filter is wether or not it is designed for a pressurized system.

Bet then, if you install it between the tank and pump, I guess there wouldn't be a problem. Hmmm, that was easy!

Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:45 am

Rowroy wrote: The only reservation I would have about this filter is wether or not it is designed for a pressurized system.

Bet then, if you install it between the tank and pump, I guess there wouldn't be a problem. Hmmm, that was easy!

The stock pump only puts out 3.5psi. I think it can take it.