[Vwdiesel] Clutch Calamity & Burnin' Bunny

[cass]

dont know bout your clutch,
(how many miles on it? sounds like it
may be time for some  'T.L.C.'  for  the entire motor... )

but as for your anecdote..
i have had no fires but one smolder and one melt :o)
(two diffrent cars)
i now make it common practice to make sure lil boots
on batt cable terminals fit well..
and if there are none..or they don't fit well..
i make some outta old bicycle inner tubes.
and i like these better then store bought ones as
the store bought ones always seem to pop off. :o)
and i can make mine big.
and there cheep :o)

cassie
  Anecdote:
  ______________________________________________
  Two weeks ago, I was heading out to run some errands.  I pulled around the corner from my house, and smelled *heavy* electrical smoke coming from the front of the car.  I pulled over to see ribbons of white smoke coming from under the hood.  I lifted the hood, and *MY BATTERY WAS BURNING*!!  The corner under the POS terminal was melted, on fire, and leaking battery juices.  One of the supports for the hood insulation had shorted across the hot terminal and set the battery on fire, and along with it, the oily insulation.    Luckily, I was outside a restaurant where I know some people, and I went in to borrow a fire extinguisher, since splashing the insulation with water did no good.  My pal came out with the extinguisher and it did its job.  The entire engine compartment was now dusted with yellow powder, but the fire appeared to be out.  I made sure it was out, closed the hood, and walked away to let it cool and ponder the situation.  I went back an hour or too later, cranked
    it up, and drove home.  I have pictures, if anyone's interested.

  I'm curious if this is a well-known occurance, or if I've purchased a cursed bunny.  It's the car I've hunted for, but it seems to be plagued.
  ______________________________________________

    __  __