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Wed Feb 12, 2003 8:54 pm

I can't belive this! Yesterday morning i was on my way to school, I stopped at a stop sign about three blocks from my house. I was in my fullt restored 74 super beetle convertible... All of a sudden, i started to go and the engine died. I thought "what the hell?" So i tried to start it back up. Thats when i smelled smoke. I got out and looked at the smoke coming from the engine compartment! My first thought was how the hell did i blow up my engine three blocks from my house... So i opened the deck lid to take a look and poof! Flames shot out when i opened it! I was sooo freaked! I called 911 and they F**KING PUT ME ON HOLD!!!! While i was on hold I ran home got our fire extinguishger, ran back, put the fire out, and then they picked up my call!!! My car is toast! It turns out that it was the infamous fuel line breakage that started the fire. I am sooo upset!

Wed Feb 12, 2003 11:21 pm

HockeyJock10

Sorry to hear about your Bug.
I hate to bring it up, but everyone should have a fire extinguisher in their bug or bus at all times. And be alert to grab it at the first sign of smoke.

Wed Feb 12, 2003 11:54 pm

RIP. I'll pour some 30wt for your ride, hockeyjock.

J is absolutely right. I watched a Beetle go up in smoke outside a movie theater one night, while we tried to beat the flames out with our jackets and threw snow on the motor. Expensive lesson learned.

Thu Feb 13, 2003 12:41 pm

When you get your baby back on the road, or when you get another one, pick up a car fire extinguisher from Pep Boys or whatever and keep it under your seat.

Thu Feb 13, 2003 3:29 pm

That sucks, did you have the german braided line on it or just rubber? I have a 79 vert I'm sellin for resto or parts.....I'll cut ya a good deal on her!

Thu Feb 13, 2003 10:53 pm

I put out a bug fire once and let me tell you one
extinguisher isnt enough

Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:21 am

I carry two. One in the cab and one in the trunk!

Fri Feb 14, 2003 3:51 pm

...moment of silence...

Fri Feb 14, 2003 3:52 pm

Also, its cool, kids driving bugs. I can vouch for that. Not many kids have um, but the ones that do...get all the attention! :)

Fri Feb 14, 2003 10:08 pm

sorry to hear thats my worst nightmare.
i got an 1835 cc case and crank and flywheel cant get rid of the frigg'n things 165+shipping if u or ne one else wants it e-mail me [email protected]
im also a "kid" at 17 and wow i get the looks and i love my car and would def cry if somthing like that happened.
shawn

Sat Feb 15, 2003 11:21 am

Yeah.... Im definately sad. OldVeeDubs, what clue did u have that i was a kid? I didnt put anything about my age in my post... but i am. So it must hav been a good guess. Haha. Im 17 and everybody thinks that im crazy for wanting volkwagens. I dont really know why, but thats okay. The insurace adjuster came and they said that they are definately gonna total my car....:( Sad but probably the best thing for my herbie...

Sat Feb 15, 2003 1:16 pm

oldveedubscomcast.net said... (2/14/2003 at 2:52PM PST)

Also, its cool, kids driving bugs. I can vouch for that. Not many kids have um, but the ones that do...get all the attention!

im a lucky kid.. 56 oval window.. but i dont seem to get that much attention! :) there are a few people who are hip to the veedubs though.

sorry to hear about you 79 hockeyjock10

Sat Feb 15, 2003 1:45 pm

An engine fire is one of my worst fears. I just can't stand the thought of sitting there and watching as "June" burned. Which is why I carry a fire extinguisher. It's cool that kids have Bugs, I'm one of them, I'm 17. I kinda like being the only one in the school parking lot with a real Bug. Although it will be cool when my best friend sells his Honda and gets the Bug he now wants.

Sat Feb 15, 2003 1:47 pm

I also heard that the way your fire happened used to occur a lot back in the 70's, that's why if my Bug or Bus just dies I'm gonna pull over and check before I try to start it back up. Also, PUT CLAMPS ON YOUR FUEL LINES!!!

Sat Feb 15, 2003 2:01 pm

HockeyJock,

"Yesterday morning i was on my way to school"

That's what gave it away, plus a good guess, cause you coulda been in college. But I hope you get another bug. And innerself, more people look at your bug than you realize. At least with mine they do...and I always have to stop and listen to..."I had a bug once..." How many times have we all heard that?

Sat Feb 15, 2003 8:06 pm

OldVeeDubs, I do have another bug already... A 1970 that I am in the process of customizing. I would say restoring but nothing that i am puting on that car is stock. It will have a finished 2110 soon and the paint job is already pretty sick. I can't wait till its done! Hopefully I get a good amount of money from our insurance company...

Mon Feb 24, 2003 10:43 pm

i feel your pain, im 16 and just had my first vw die on me

Mon Feb 24, 2003 11:22 pm

yeh at least ur fire didnt catch inside ur car..in my 55 oval..i had cans of paint in the bak seat..it pushed the coils of the seat onto the battery...that horse hair catches on fire and burns real nicely...anyways those oil based paints didnt help..
the asshole at the buisness i ran into wouldnt give me his fire extinguisher so i had to get one from another place..Ive never seen a bug so white after i was throught with that...fires suck..

screw war in iraq,lets wage war againts these assholes here

im 17 and have a hard time with my vw..all the money comes out of my own pocket and i ve been through 5 engines (no i did not race them) i sold one and still got two..my parents hate them...
...its nice to see other kids like me in vws

Sat Mar 01, 2003 9:05 pm

hehe.... I'm the child of two hippies. And they're American Indian, too. What else would I be? But hey, I drive a Beetle. That's what really matters, isnt it? Plus, it pisses me off that I have to pay so much for insurance on such an old car! THAT is the real issue, isnt it? ....back to madTV :) peace in the middle east

Sat Mar 01, 2003 9:08 pm

oh yeah, and FORGET all the haters who dont support our hobby. Like Colin Powell, VWoA, and people who just dont get it. Send them all to Dr. Phil.

NO BLOOD FOR OIL