Jetta GLX under body design flaw (long but good)

[tdipalma@thomas.com (Tony Dipalma)]

Just took my six month old Jetta GLX the VW dealer
because it was leaking gas from underneath the
car. Now, I'm no engineer but, I do know a little
about fluids & dynamics. I would love to talk to
the Volkswagen engineer that designed the underbody
to my Jetta and educuate him/her a little. There are 3
fuel related lines that run from the rear (gas tank)
of the car to the front of the car. One (black) line
is the main feeder line that carries gas to the engine.
The second (white) line is a vapor recovery line or
return line; while the third (blue) is a air line.
The problem is that all of these lines are exposed to
the elements, not housed or insulated and there fucken
(pardon my French) plastic.

As far as I know, and as many cars I've worked on, uni-
body and all, I have never seen EXPOSED PLASTIC gas lines
mounted to the underbody of a car. When they are exposed
they should be made of steel. If that is not the case,
typically, fuel lines are run along/in the frame, chasis,
or in the undertray completely protected from the elements.
Obviously, the Volkswagen engineers don't think this is
necesary. Well, they should because mine was slightly cut
when I ran over a (small diameter) tree branch that I could
not avoid. Clearly, if the lines were run properly or made
of steel this would not have been a problem. Could it be
an explosive matter?

I don't know if some of you remember the problems that the
Volkswagen Bug had during its hay day (60's) but, let me
tell you... Several people lost their lives when their bug
exploded because of a fuel line design flaw. There was a time
when they ran fuel lines over the exhaust manifold. Well, I
guess Volkswagen did not learn their lesson. This is a real
danger.

If any of you have a chance, take a look under your Jetta
to see what I'm talking about. Look on the right (passenger)
hand side near the rear wheels. They also hang down a little.
toward the rear wheel. Please notice that near the engine they
are housed in the undertray. Well thats how it should be all
the way through to the rear with small access inlets for service
access. Oh well.

Now, I just hope my dealer will fix this under the two year
warrenty bumper to bumper plan and not say that this was a
road hazzard or act of god. The problem is clearly a design
flaw. Just poor engeering.

We'll keep ya posted,
Tony