Mornin'!

UPDATE:  solved brake problem- 2 shorts.  Sometimes beer really helps troubleshooting... "Feeling frustrated, burnt out, boxed in, punched out?  Try a nice 9.2% alcohol homebrewed bock!  If it don't' knock you on yer arse, it will certainly mellow you out!"

However, still concerned about the Blue coil heat-up when the key is on yet engine off...?

Mike
--------------

Help please...

What Happened:  My unsecured aux battery decided to fall over (likely during an evade-the-ass-who-cut-into-my-lane- move) make contact with the engine tin, and burn up it's connections, any surrounding wires, burned a hole thru the plastic fan screen, and the melted the foam engine seal.  Fortunately the battery light flickered, and I was able to minimize damage.

What I've done: removed the aux battery and it's wiring (which welded themselves to the engine tin) since it has a hole burned nearly thru it's side; removed and replaced all melted wiring altho I've not reconnected the trailer hitch setup; cleaned as much melted foam up as possible (ick).

I noticed last night that when I try the brakes, I blow the fuse.  OK, a Short, but haven't yet found it.  Neither the horn and emrg. brake warning light, nor turning on the power/ key popped it, only the pressing of brake.  So I I'm assuming the short is in the back where the damage occurred.  Any suggestions?

Also last night, I noticed the Bosch Blue coil was pretty warm, but could not be certain if it was due to the engine having been run not too long ago, or if I had another or related problem.  I disconnected the batt overnight.  Came out this morning; coil cool.  Popped pos back onto primary battery turned on key; coil is warming up. Any thoughts on whether this is normal?

Additionally, this morning I still have no brake lights, but the fuse isn't blowing when I hit the brakes either... ugh.

Thoughts/ suggestions appreciated!
CHeers, Mike

Coils will get warm  when running. If you  leave the ing. switch on and not running the engine, The coil will get HOT plus maybe frying the points. I,m not sure if it would hurt a electronic Ing. unit or not. I would look at the taillight wiring around where the battery did its thing.

Ah yes. The old "secure things properly"  syndrome. This a good thing to consider seeing how the later Type-2s don't need a lot of outside help to burn to the ground ,like bad wiring, out of sight dried up and cracked fuel hoses on the injection systems. This is why you used proper VW hoses and not some junk stuff with questionble heritage. At a "Zillion" dollars a inch for proper hose and the cost of a battery tie down "thingy" ,I can't help but to think that this still would be cheaper than creating a rather large piece of patina incrusted yard art. You were very lucky that you didn't burn off some of those 60psi fuel hoses. I have seen it happen to many times. A spectacular thing to see indeed as long as it wasn't my Westy. :roll:

AH !!  I love a Pilgrim with a plan. Decadence by the beach is a good thing indeed. As matter of fact, Decadence anywhere is a good thing.
    Think of and take pity on your Tn. buddies who do not have a proper beach to lounge on. All we have is beautiful Mtns, Trout laden streams, tree covered trails to cruise on with the top down. Hmmmm, Come to think of it, thats not to bad after all. I can smell the T-Bones, Fried "Taters" and Onions on the grill as  we speak, along with the "Rattling of ice Cubes" in my cup filled with Tn. finest. Sigh!!
     Have fun !! :lol:  :lol:

Ret.BugTech:
O- believe you/ me- I know FL gots nothing on TN... or anywhere that changes color in the Fall or has mountains to hike/ sleep on.  I've learned to compensate by heading to the coast to satisfy my camping needs.  Altho I have to admit, camping with a pop-top is certainly a huge change from carrying all ones needs up a trail for hours in a pack.  It is certainly entertaining that when setting up camp, I'm lighting tiki torches and placing string lites about instead of clearing brush and looking for rocks to make a fire!

VWGirl:
I figure if I can find a reputable outfit within 150miles of GVille, I'll be happy.  Thanks for the tip- I'll check Sunray out.  Thanks!

---

Anyone have experience with the deep cycle Optima batteries?  So far I've been pretty underwhelmed with the one I got...

Cheers, Mike

I see lot's of 'em at work returned with crap for voltage.  For the longest time I grabbed them up and subsitutited a reg. lead acid battery for the core.  I took them home and trickle charged them to no avail...they seem to be overated crap to me, other than the fact that you don't need to provide a vent for them.  I think if they were used the way they were intended all would be well...it's just when you stray from the path......I'm sure someone will have something to say! :thumbs-up:

musta made some improvements over the years .I've been using optimas for the last 8 years with no problems. The one in my car is 5 years old with no problems. Sooner or later i'll replace it. :lol:

Last I had read, I think the gel cells were different than these sealed deep cycles- but they are both supposed to be long lasting slow dischargers...

Here's the Optima scoop in my case...

After my latest round of idiocy-

(which- so everyone is up to speed on my idiocy- the spare battery was unsecured, fell over, welded itself to the engine tin, nearly melted a hole thru to its core, and melted the insulation off nearly all wires in the vicinity as well as the foam engine seal about 1.5ft in either direction and onto the muffler)(umm, smells awesome)

I figured eh- screw it- might as well get a topnotch batt for a spare as I already have a nice inverter and am planning a massive stereo revamp s well as several semi-permanent 12V fan installations (I've got them rigged to old drafting table lamps swingarms- sweet!).  I also have a 70amp alternator I bought from some dick on Samba that he either had bench tested by a monkey, or not at all, since it is subpar.  Regardless, I figured I'd install the Optima, rebuild the 70amp alt, and move swiftly to killer-watt tuneage.

Long story short (too late)- Installed the Optima, ran the Riviera fridge while in Anastasia... according to the interior voltage gauge, and judging by the less-than-nightlite sputter of a glow I got when I plugged my wee 12V flashlite into it, it was nearly discharged after running apx 20hrs.  Mind you, this is after the 2hr drive out there for charging.  

The regular, non-deep cycle WalMart starting battery I inherited from the PO would run that fridge for roughly 2 days without problem.  

So, either

1) my charging system sucks and the battery was never fully charged...

2) I fried the blue box- altho according to the gauge it charges the Optima back up...

3) I've a less-than-optimal Optima Yellow deep cycle battery.

Addition:  Just noticed in the instructions (like I bothered to read those first- bah!) that it states "Use top terminals for accessory and starting applications.  Only use battery side terminals for auto starting applications"...

What what what???!?  

(by now the crowd has guessed that Mike is indeed using the side terminals for his accessories)

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Mike