In a message dated 98-08-06 18:55:49 EDT, ELODEA@AOL.COM writes:

<<
 I also didn't hear the cooling fan come on when I stopped so maybe it is just
 fuses. My fear is that if I take the van on a 6 hour trip before I figure
this
 out, either the engine will blow or we might catch fire. So tell me if the
 exhaust and underbody has always been this hot and I just never noticed? Or
if
 this is a sign of bad things to come : ).

 Thanks again for all your help.

 Cyndi >>
Hi Cyndi, It will get hot under the passenger seat because of a hot exhaust
system under there. If your coolings fans aren't coming on (quiet low speed
fans) after idleing for a about five minutes with a hot motor, than very
likely you'll need to replace both resistor packs for the radiator fans. The
resistor packs are located behind that panel, below the left headlight. They
ALL GO BAD in 93 Eurovans.  Also check the big 50 amp diesel glow plug type
fuses behind the left headlight, they are silver and aren't what many people
are used to seeing, for a fuse that is.  Also if it hasn't been done yet,
you'll need to get those three sodder points just above the voltage regulator
inside your instrument cluster, on the curcuit board, resodderd. If it hasn't
happened yet with your temp gauge and your fuel gauge intermittantly showing
lazy readings and going from hot to cold, it will happen soon, and you'll need
to do the above repair. It's about a 1.5 hour repair, at the VW dealership.
The earlier Passats (90 to 93) had the same problem. Dealers know all about
it. Let me know how it goes.
 Michael Modl ( VW shop foreman)
 87 syncro
 87 quattro