Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 11:15:18 -0700 (PDT)

THE DISCUSSION has been raised about what to do with a vehicle that may be
near the World Trade Center in NYC.  Anyone watching the news can see many vehicles
sitting on the streets with layers of dust and ash.

The following is what I would do to recover my vehicle.  IF you have better ideas let me
know and I'll update the page.  I'm going to place a copy of this in http://wagoneers.com/FSJ/tech
but also have it in the URL below.

==============================================================

If your vehicle is covered in dust or ash debris here are some of the
steps you might want to take before opening any doors, starting the vehicle
or moving it.

The objective here is to remove as much of the material without getting it
into moving parts, the interior or the engine.  You also want to be careful
not to scratch the exterior or glass.

You want to remove the dust, cement material, volcanic ash or whatever else
is on the vehicle.  Water or compressed air seem like the most logical choice
if they are available.  A brush or broom if not.  Pay attention to moving parts
and get the debris out of those areas the best you can.

========================================================

first things:  

- DO NOT START THE ENGINE
- DO NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL.
- DO NOT OPEN DOORS OR HOOD 

A garden hose would be my first choice, compressed air my second,
a shop-vac my third and as a last resort a brush or soft broom...

A vacuum cleaner would probably not be effective but would be better than using your hands.  

Whatever tool you us, remove all the dust that you can.

If possible, then hose it down completely.    
Compressed air would also work, but raising more dust may not be desirable, or healthy.

After all the surface dust and ash is removed and the exterior is clean,
then carefully open the driver's door, check the seals to make sure
crud hasn't fallen in.  Clean around the opening and anything that's fallen inside.

Pop the hood.  I recommend hosing or blowing off 
the engine off completely before starting it.  Pay attention to the backsides
of the pulleys for the water pump, alternator, power steering and so on.

Open the air cleaner, it should be clean inside.  No need to change the filter,
it's unlikely that dust got in there.  You can change it if it needs it though.

Spray underneath on the axles and around the u-joints and wheel bearing seals.

Rinse everything off.  Let it dry.  

If it's clean when dry, then you're safe to move it.    

 Listen carefully when turning the engine over... if you hear abrasive action, shut it off
and squirt water or air into the idler pulleys, belts and pumps to rinse away the
material.

I'd also recommend putting a pair of pantyhose or nylons over the air filter opening
as an added precaution.  That's what was used when Mount Saint Helens erupted.

Slowly move the vehicle, listening carefully to any screeching, grinding or abrasive
sounds from the wheels... Most likely if you have disc brakes you will hear some...
if you lightly apply the brakes and the sounds go away, that's what it is.  Don't
worry about that right now.  The wheel bearings are the concern.

Once you're clear of the dust and ashes, take it to a car wash and
hose the underside and exterior again.

It'll most likely be completely fine if you do all these things.  

As an added precaution have the oil changed as soon as you can, and have the bearings
and axles checked.  Having all the fluids changed is even more insurance against
future troubles.

http://www.wagoneers.com/pages/History/TERRORIST-ATTACK-NYC/Vehicle-Recovery.txt


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   Snohomish, Washington USA  - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold.
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