coronabus
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
NUTS Member
What Happens In The Bus...
Posts: 191
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Post by coronabus on Nov 27, 2006 11:51:15 GMT -5
I was cleaning out the garage and moving things around this weekend to park the bus and Passat for the winter. Bus battery was dead so I hooked up the booster cables from the running Passat to the bus battery post to post. Thought I'd leave it for a sec to charge and I began sweeping the garage floor. All of a sudden my son yells, "Dad the bus is on fire!!" I quickly flew to the back of the bus and noticed a good flame growing. Luckily I had gloves on so I basically swatted it out. So what happened was the wire from the positive terminal of the battery to the alternater got hot enough to melt the sheathing and plastic wire tubing around it and light it on fire. I thank goodness my son was where he was and reacted quickly as he did. So my question, what could have caused this?
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Post by riffraff on Nov 27, 2006 12:51:45 GMT -5
Wow, not good. Obviously, the guts of your alternator are going to ground. If you're lucky, no other wiring got fried. If you're unlucky, you need a new wiring harness. Check the other wires you can see in the engine compartment and check wires going to the fusebox and speedo. If none of them look fried, you can probably get away with new alternator and wire to the battery. As far as what would cause it - I have no idea.
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coronabus
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
NUTS Member
What Happens In The Bus...
Posts: 191
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Post by coronabus on Nov 27, 2006 14:02:28 GMT -5
Ya scary shit Keith! I was freezing my unmentionables off so I didn't spend too much time inspecting things (still don't have my overhead door installed). I inspected all visible wires and didn't see anything else odd. So quite possibly my few month old alternater is done? That would suck! I'm gonna have a closer look tonight and grab a few pics if I can. I'm hoping a new alt wire will do...I'll start there and trickle charge the battery (which is also just a few months old).
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Post by commercialair on Nov 27, 2006 14:53:37 GMT -5
The power lead is going to ground somewhere. A short in the system will account for the dead battery as well. Break out the continuity tester and start pokin' around....when it's warmer of course. From the title, I thought this thread was about staying warm while you drive. Good luck Paul. We all understand the frustrations of wiring.
Chris
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Post by Shayna Jaymie on Nov 27, 2006 15:46:55 GMT -5
From the title, I thought this thread was about staying warm while you drive. Chris I had some really good pointers all ready for that thread...
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coronabus
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
NUTS Member
What Happens In The Bus...
Posts: 191
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Post by coronabus on Nov 27, 2006 16:33:40 GMT -5
Gee sorry guys...I've changed the title, but please I'd like to hear some suggestions of how to keep warm in a bus Better yet, I'll start a general post.
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coronabus
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
NUTS Member
What Happens In The Bus...
Posts: 191
|
Post by coronabus on Nov 29, 2006 15:13:25 GMT -5
Did some snoopin and I believe I'm may be dealing with a bummed ignition switch. Still too damn cold to spend anytime in the garage. Anyone know how to install an overhead door??
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Post by commercialair on Nov 29, 2006 15:24:58 GMT -5
Anyone know how to install an overhead door?? Yes and if you pay for a return flight to and from Calgary, I'll install it for you.
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Post by riffraff on Nov 29, 2006 16:20:51 GMT -5
Careful with that offer buddy. Ken will cuff you to Rosie if you enter the city limits!
And BTW - it's marshmallows ........ The spelling and grammar Nazi just couldn't take it anymore
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coronabus
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
NUTS Member
What Happens In The Bus...
Posts: 191
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Post by coronabus on Nov 29, 2006 16:30:46 GMT -5
Ok, I've edited my topic for the 2nd and hopefully last time now. Keith you realize now everyone of your posts will be critiqued! Ha Chris, do you think I'd just bring you here to install a door?
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Post by riffraff on Nov 29, 2006 17:17:44 GMT -5
Keith you realize now everyone of your posts will be critiqued! That's cool. :-/I always critique my own prior to posting anyhow, but that still doesn't mean they're right. See "Missed it By That Much" for an example.
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coronabus
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
NUTS Member
What Happens In The Bus...
Posts: 191
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Post by coronabus on Nov 29, 2006 18:22:40 GMT -5
I'm actually pretty anal about that too Keith. Here's one for ya, sorry I mean you, I found in CVD, drove me 's
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Post by dpeters81westy on Nov 29, 2006 21:33:58 GMT -5
D Ha Chris, do you think I'd just bring you here to install a door? Heh, I imagine you'd feed him a few Coronas as part of the deal eh? - DP
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Post by riffraff on Nov 29, 2006 23:56:22 GMT -5
I'm actually pretty anal about that too Keith. Here's one for ya, sorry I mean you, I found in CVD, drove me 's Yeah, examples like that are extreme and make me cringe. And then there are the ones who post with the abbreviations. R U gonna cum prty dood? AAHHHHHHHHHHH!
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coronabus
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
NUTS Member
What Happens In The Bus...
Posts: 191
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Post by coronabus on Nov 30, 2006 9:55:02 GMT -5
Doug, you can always find a few Ronies around my place. Rules are strict though work first, then savor the Mexican beverage. At times when progress is not going well (ie. tools and parts begin to fly and language in garage becomes rated R), cease work and hit the bottle immediately!! At least it's warming up, looks like some drinking wrenching will be occurring this weekend! How hard is it to replace an ignition switch?
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