Guy at work posted this - anyone any ideas?

"Before I take my car in for a potentially expensive repair, I wonder if

anyone can advise me on a problem with my 1997 VW Sharan.

Recently, the area above the vents at floor-level in the rear, next to

the near-side rear wheel arch, is becoming hot. I've not noticed this

before. It happens even with the car at rest and the engine just idling

for 10 minutes or so, and with ventilation, heating and air conditioning

switched off. The engine itself is not overheating.

There are 2 pipes running under the car, which seem to enter at around

this point, and which are also getting quite hot. I assume the heat is

coming from them.

Any ideas anyone?"

Thanks, Chris

These pipe are not close to the exhaust by any chance?

I'd say exhaust also, maybe a bracket snapped and it's touching this pipe?

He doesn't say what diameter the pipes are. If they're small bore - could be the fuel flow and return lines in which case you expect them to get warm, but not hot. Alternatively they may be part of the aircon system - not sure if a Sharan maybe has an extra condenser in the rear, and again warm might be expected, but probably not hot.

Thanks guys! I assumed that they'd be the fuel pipes but couldn't explain why they'd be hot. I've passed on your comments anyway and I'll let you know if he solves it!

Chris

Well in an injection system (especially at idle) fuel is returned from the fuel rail to the tank. There's a flow and a return pipe. Obviously over time, after being in the engine bay, although not actually used in the engine, the fuel does warm up, but I'm not sure how much.

In fact one of the workshop tests is to measure the fuel return rate, as an indirect measure of the system pressure.

That will be the secondary heater unit, the pipes are coolant pipes.

Its a small unit that is used for rear cabin heating it also has a fuel unit in it to heat the diesel up to stop waxing.

Nowt to worry about at all.

Thanks Ross - ain't Briskoda great?!

Chris