Tiico, not looking good

[ftp2leta]

[devesvws]

[MsTaboo]

Hey Ben I'll take one of those!

And I would if I wasn't a continent away

The Subi motor is what VW should have built, but since they didn't what the heck is wrong with mix and match?

Sure it's great to be "pure", but it's better to be going down the road (and over the passes!)

I'm for all rebuilders and converters, just glad they help to keep these babies on the road.
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
When you stir up shit you're bound to get some on yourself.
Resist Kleptocratic Oligarchy (and Idiocracy)!

[r39o]

[GBA 88West LA]

i believe tiico was bought out by FAS in maine
_________________
88 Westy GL Vanaru 07 2.5 EJ25/AA Trans/oiling plates, 1.14 3rd-.77-4th..solar powered cabin

[bread geek]

FAS is now your tiico source.as far as kepping up with the times these guys have it going on.check out there web site.they did mine and it is flawless.jon and his crew eat breath and sleep vanagons.they are top notch.

[Beetsport]

[pigottp]

I purchaed a Tiico last year from Peter in Cameron Park CA. I had two weeks of bliss then calamity. Here's what happened. Last October my local VW mechanic installed my Tiico. My 86 Wesy Syncro was parked until April 24 2009 when I started driving it six kilometres a day back and forth to work. There was a problem with the battery. At 50 kms I took it for service oil change and battery repair. VW initialy failed to fix the problem: the battery was still dying out. I returned the van again last Monday. On Wednesday I drove it home and the battery problem seemed to be fixed. The mechanic told me he had to replaced the alternator wire and he showed me the new wire running from the alt to the back of the engine compartment. Things seemed to work fine on the way home. I took it out again on the weekend for a few stops around town with my daughter. ON the way to the fourth stop at a traffic light we advanced on a green when the engine made a pop sound...the battery warning red came on and the ignition light came on as the ignition made a celenoid clicking type of sound. Somebody pulled up beside us as I was about the turn off the key and shouted get out you're on fire. I got myself and my daughter to safety then ran back to the van opening the rear door and removing the engine cover. Thick black smoke and flames rushed out from the back of the engine compartment. I ran to the front to the key which was still clicking and red light showing, I pulled the key off and grabbed my extinguisher. As I ran back a gas attendant with a large extinguisher was at the back and he doused the flames immediately. When the smoke settled I found most of the wiring is burnt, and the newly installed alt wire in particualr was burnt to the metal. The distributer cap is also melted. The electrical box at the back of the engine compartment seems undamaged but the wires going up to it are melted down to the wire. The wire harness and wires down to the spark plugs are burnt but the plugs are basically in tact. Despite the smoke and flames it seems like the fire did not get that hot since my engine lid is only singed on one side and none of the rubber hoses or belts are damaged. All of the wiring in every part of the engine compartment is fried though. I'm tyring to figure out the cause of this fire. As well I've tried to contact Peter about my warranty and get only an I'm out of business message. Does anybody know who I get in touch with about the manufacturer warranty? I also need replacement parts. Is there anyone on this blog who can offer advice? I've spent 10 grand "recharging" my Syncro and right now I've got nothing.

[wildenbeast]

[Vanagon Nut]

pigottp, glad to hear you both got away unscathed. Shame about the damage.

Was the battery replaced before alternator wire "fixed"?

It sure sounds like an *unfused* positive wire shorted out to ground.

i.e. positive post/wires of battery, (was battery clamped down? Is it the correct size?), large wire(s) at starter came loose, large wire from alternator came loose. Did VW work on that wire?

Sorry no help regarding course of action, but if it were me, I'd be curious about any work done to battery, and alternator/wire.

Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[crazyvwvanman]

Warranty? You need to contact your insurance agent, not someone who sold you some parts last year.

Mark

[pigottp]

I put down my five grand and was promied a 12 month warranty on faulty parts. I don't know the cause yet.. Of course my insurance company refused to give me comprehensive on a 1986 vehicle

[pigottp]

The battery was checked and was found to be not a part of the problem.

I purchaed a new battery a three years back and got the correct size and proper clamped down installation.

After the alt wire replacedment the van ran smoothly for three days. Is that possible if the mechnic got the wires reversed?

The alternator wire I had replaced was the VW original. But the wire was frayed just below the connection to the alt. The mechanic replaced the whole wire with a brand new part.

I spoke with Peter at Van salon today and he suggested the fuel rail may be the source of the problem. The most melted, hottest part of the fire was aorund the distributor cap. I'm going to take some photographs and try to get some answers about what happened, the I can decide who to blame.

[Vanagon Nut]