I don't believe it : (

[ivor Fastun 0]

Heys, i've been a lurker on these forums for a while now and have found them a really useful and helpful place. So thank you to anyone who has replied to my posts and answered my questions. Hopefully i can count on you for one last time?

 

I'm absolutely gutted and have has the worst string of luck possible...

 

I've owned my C for over a year now, it was bought from a forum member and it was very well maintained!

 

Then the heater matrix split and i had the dredded steam! I stripped the entire dashboard and furniture to replace the matrix and then refitted it all with upgraded experimental sound proofing (do a search for flashing tape lol). I was very happy the results and gave myself a big pat on the back!

 

and then traveling on the m1 at approx 70mph my eyebrow spolier decided to split in half and throw the left side into the windscreen.. bummer! Had to put the old grill back on... least it wernt a brick!

 

..and then last weekend in a light shower my driverside wiper just sheared off! sooo very random, it split at a 'strong' point? metal fatigue? i just dont know!

 

Corrado92.pdfsnap.jpg[/attachment:se1aayw9]

 

and then last night i popped to my mates, had a blast on pro ev, then popped into the local for a couple of jars and then popped my mate home and then i set off for home... and my car filled with smoke! I stopped, turned it off, threw open the bonnet to instantly spot a glowing red cable near the passenger bulkhead. I then ran to the passenger side (recognising it to be the sub power lead) open the door to find the entire left sill to be burning! i put it out with the t-shirt off my back and then took the back seat off to see the whole boot on fire! and the passenger rear quarter panel! 30 seconds later the whole car was alight! all i could do was watch!

 

passat climatronic wiring diags.pdffire.jpg[/attachment:se1aayw9]

 

I am soooo unbelievable gutted! Even the firemen who put it out, the cops who questioned me, the garage who recovered it all said it was a real beautiful rare car! :brickwall:

 

I just don't understand what happened, i know for a fact it was the power lead, i saw it there when i replaced all the carpets. I left it there as i thought it was safe, the ends were left bare by the previous owner so i assumed the fuse was removed. I never checked! Even if it wasnt surely it would burn out straight away??

My best guess is it randomly made contact with the chassis and shorted! It took a year to do it!!!

 

climatronic wiring-Golf from May 01.pdfleft.jpg[/attachment:se1aayw9]

back.jpg[/attachment:se1aayw9]

2.8l 24v Climatronic system.pdfthe-fuse.jpg[/attachment:se1aayw9]

 

checkout the last pic, you can see the cable before the fuse has got very hot but not after? how the hell did that happen?

If only i had a C02 extingusher or a kill switch :(

 

now i've left myself in a right pickle, the MOT has ran out and i need to get a few things to make it pass ie cat for the exhaust, rear number plate lights, new wiper etc etc so it's now a month out of date. PLus there is the fact i lied about having alloys and a cold air induction kit when i insured it.

 

The grease monkeys recon i should just pay them the recovery fees and forget about claiming as im only 1/3 party fire and theft and have invalidated my insurance. by the time i loose the case, the bill from them for recovering and storing would be much higher so i should pay it now and get rid!

 

I don't know what to do! i feel like im mourning a family member!

 

Do you think there is much scrap value in the car, the engine is fine except for a slightly melted top cover?

 

Could any please advise me for this one last time lol!

 

Cheers guys! (look after your C's get a C02 extiguisher!

[CorradoVR6-Turbo 0]

gutting mate !!!! sorry to see the raddo go to a gloomy end...but your ok and thats all thats important :cry:

 

there must be no fuse in there...or a bolt for a fuse?

[Toad 0]

Bummer... That's really unfortunate. I've made assumptions like that fuse was missing in the past and have always been lucky.

[The_Dude 0]

Cripes. Glad you are ok though, another 30 seconds and you would have been driving a flaming car. :shock:

You could break the entire front end and maybe make your recovery costs back?

If you are saying you had no MOT at the time of the aforementioned flamb

[KipVR 1]

Is the fuse holder screwed to the washer bottle? think perhaps the guy installing it wasn't the cleverest of chaps!!

[VR6 0]

...............now i've left myself in a right pickle, the MOT has ran out and i need to get a few things to make it pass ..........

 

Sorry, I completely sympathise but the above comment really made me :lol:

 

Sounds like a :pale: situation :sad:

[Dec 1]

Gutted to hear that!! :cry:

 

I have a pair of extinguishers (one in the boot, and one in the cab), as I'm pretty paranoid about something catching!......But I wont be happy until I have a fully plumbed in system........my only worry with that would be would be some numpty doing a Dougal and pressing the shiny red button in the dash and filling the engine bay with foam :roll:

[dinkus 10]

Oh man, that's some seriously crappy luck :(

 

I'm uber paranoid about my amp power lead - it's got a fuse at each end to stop exactly that happening.

 

From looking at that picture, there must have been either a stupidly high-rated fuse or bolt in that fuse holder for that to have happened. I've popped the fuse on mine before, so I know it'll pop way before anything gets hot and that's a 40 amp fuse!

[The_Dude 0]

edit - :scratch:

[Traverse 0]

Wow, it seems like more of these are going up in flames lately than anything else. Kind of makes me rethink that drive I took earlier.

 

Sorry about your luck. I'm glad that you are okay, and that you got your mate back to his place before anything bad happened. :cry:

[Adz The Rat 0]

Gutted!!!

Im really sorry to hear about the dead Corrado, glad to hear you not hurt!!!

Although, no MOT and lied about the insurance, tut tut tut sorry to say but maybe learn a lesson from this??

[ivor Fastun 0]

...............now i've left myself in a right pickle, the MOT has ran out and i need to get a few things to make it pass ..........

 

Sorry, I completely sympathise but the above comment really made me :lol:

 

Sounds like a :pale: situation :sad:

 

lol i think im going to need a hell of a lot of parts to get it MOT'd now!

 

 

Re: Adz the Rat, yep ive got no excuse except nievety. I def should know better as my last car got nicked. I simply couldnt afford to insure it if i declared everything. I guess that back fired big time. The MOT was just disorganised of me, i know itt wouldnt pass, i've got most of the parts sat in my garage waiting to be used! just needed to get hold of a cat converter.

 

Re:kipVr the fuse was stuck to the tank not screwed. so he wernt a numpty. Sadly i took the fuse apart and you coulnt see inside, the breaker guy did suggest it was a bolt tho. Its looking more likely. Ill def double check.

[mk1g60 0]

touch wood ive never had anything this drastic happen to me, must be gutting.

 

have to look at the bright side though, at least no-one was hurt, and your insurance wont go sky high if you decide not to persue a claim.

 

if i was you i would sell what you can from the car, scrap the shell and go on the hunt for another

 

karl

[coolrado 0]

really gutted to see that, unfortunately those fuse holders are quite a poor design, as when you remove the fuse the two metal contacts inside can still be pushed in and make contact with each other, all it would take is for it to touch once and it would then weld itself together.

 

if there is a fuse in there and it was too high a rating for the cable used it would also cause that to happen.

 

whenever i have removed my fuse to do work on the car i have always put a small section of rubber tube in the fuse holder to stop the contacts touching.

[mattnorgrove 0]

the MOT has ran out and i need to get a few things to make it pass!

 

That may be the funniest comment I've ever read on here! :cuckoo: :lol:

 

Seriously though, glad you're ok, that looks like a pretty well established fire goin on there!

 

I'd cut your losses and wash your hands of it, lesson learned and all that.

 

I reckon I'll be checking the amp feed (that I fitted) in the mrs's bug this weekend...

 

Gutting to see a Rado engulfed in flames, really sad... :(

[was8v 0]

As said before break the front end, should easy get over a grand (if its a VR).

 

I've seen a few OK VRs going for around £1500 these days. I missed a really nice one the other day with 130k and only a broken bonnet cable.

 

Gutted for you.

 

I already carry and extinguisher, but maybe I should be getting one of these too:

 

http://www.motionperformance.co.uk/Rich ... _info.html

[Guest]

:censored: gutted for ya, i wouldnt worry too severely about the undeclared mods, let the insurance assesor make thier mind up on it, despite what people think to an insurance company an alloy wheel is an alloy wheel, whatever size or shape it is! they only want extra as usually after market alloys make a car more "stealable" according to them, and an air filter? not really a mod

 

as for the CAT situation, i cant see any assesor laying under a burnt out car anytime soon in his/her Armani suit and gucci shoes! they will asses it for what it is, a burnt out corrado!

 

It could go against you on the MOT being out, depends if they ask for it/notice? and how long its been out and how they view it?

 

Lesson to learn though..............dont give your mates lifts! and dont have loads of stereo equiptment! and if the cars got it when you buy it disconnect it as you never do know

[Walesy 0]

I suppose the other lesson to learn would be to not drive a car that has no MOT and doesn't have valid insurance. Think yourself lucky that no-one was hurt mate.

[Goldie 2]

Thats terrible, gutted for you.. I know its the person that matters not the car but id be heartbroken if that hapenned to mine..

[DaveStorm 0]

Jees that is bad luck! :shock: Sorry to see another C bite the dust but at least nobody died.

As has been said ALWAYS keep a suitable fire extinguisher to hand as car fires are just so unexpected (I keep a couple of good old halons in mine). People often don't bother cos they think it'll just rattle around the car for years and that they'll never need to use it. Incidents like this prove otherwise.

Best of luck getting it all sorted out :wink:

[enbee23 0]

If your car had/has no MOT, it is effectively uninsured. They will check and you will get nothing. Apart from maybe grief from the police :sad:

 

The fire is a pisser though, sorry about the car and glad you got out unscathed.

[Philuk 0]

really really gutted for you mate, only thing i can say is you have found out about someone elses wiring the hard way, i have always ripped out the wiring that someone else has put in and putting my own in, still doenst really help you atm. i dont think i would say anything to insurance. either find a nice shell with a dead lump and put yours in on strip whats left and buy another one!

[ivor Fastun 0]

Gutted!!!

Im really sorry to hear about the dead Corrado, glad to hear you not hurt!!!

Although, no MOT and lied about the insurance, tut tut tut sorry to say but maybe learn a lesson from this??

 

Honestly, yes totally, i guess i can slightly blame the fact i let things get behind (ie MOT) and the insurance is prob a chip on my shoulder from when me last car was nicked and they insurance guys gave me £300 for a car i had insured and valued at £2000.. In my head i knew i was in the wrong but i only had a little time to go til my 3 years NCb would kick in and then it would be affordable.

All in hinsight now. I hope someone might learn from my bad fortune. I certainly have a lot to regret.

 

I have some interesting updates tho..

 

firstly whoever said it was the fuse HIT THE NAIL SMACK BANG ON THE HEAD!!! The fuse was removed but the short was caused by the terminal blocks inside moving close enough to either touch or spark. Either way that is a really really bad flaw in the design! Im wondering if i have any chance of suing them, the previous owner is not at fault and gladly nor am i. i was a ticking time bomb! why why why didnt i check it or disconnect it from the battery!

 

Good news tho, i can claim without an MOT although i wont get a full payout, I guess this might change according to your insurer, i might be lucky. Secondly the scrappies have said i can swap anything off the car. Im going to take the air induction kit off and the alloys. Since the mods didnt effect the outcome it wont effect the insurers but i want to make sure. Plus a mate wants the alloys.

 

Does anyone in the west yorkshire area have some original alloys to sell for cheap? Also what VW air box will fit a corrado as i know i wont get a genuine one in time. Realistaically i think ill prob only get to swap the air box but itl help.

 

And finally, since last week i have passed two C's in hudderfield. One nice red one and that notoriously good yellow one which i saw today. I have now made a pact, i will get another C! not yet and not for a while but im going to do it! I frickin love these cars and they look the bomb! A real timeless design. mean as f*ck

 

Cheers, and thanks for your comments.

[skinnyman9000 0]

DAAAAAAAMN, i'd be heart broken if that happened to mine, spent faaaar too much for it to return the favour by setting on fire!

 

Im off to buy a fire extinguisher!

[boost monkey 0]

Good news tho, i can claim without an MOT although i wont get a full payout, I guess this might change according to your insurer, i might be lucky.

 

Isn't your insurance null and void?