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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

So... my car caught on fire yesterday

  • Thread starter Thread starter BigHairyMonkey
  • Start date Start date May 11, 2007
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BigHairyMonkey

Founding Member
Jun 18, 2003
411
1
16
Houston (Bellaire) TX
May 11, 2007
#1
  • May 11, 2007
  • #1
So im driving over to meet one of my friends who works at a ford dealership (he was gonna put in my FWA & MM cable) and im stuck in traffic on the freeway. Systems bumping, ac on, hot as hell outside, so the e fans working overtime. So im creeping along and start to smell something funny. At first i think maybe its a car in front of me... That idea quickly changes as smoke starts pouring through the defrost vents So while shatting myself i pull over, get out and pop the hood. The damn fuse holder for my E-fan relay is ON FIRE! Not smoldering, ON FIRE, and it was also starting to catch my windshield washer fluid reservoir on fire as well. I miraculously had a half full water bottle in my car at the time (this pretty much saved my car) so i run and get it and put the fire out. I cut out the wiring and drive to the dealership mad as hell Thank god i was only 2 blocks away. So long story short, dont use cheap plastic fuseholders for your relays Got a nice glass one now with a 50amp in it. All in all, ****ty day yesterday.
 

FrankenStang

Now, give me a damn CT!
15 Year Member
Apr 16, 2005
4,461
70
129
Florence, Az
May 11, 2007
#2
  • May 11, 2007
  • #2
Glad you had the water with you! I think I'd about DIE if one of my foxes caught on fire.
 

BK_CAULEY

it's built for speed not longevity, woman
Dec 26, 2006
0
10
49
Thomasville, ga
May 11, 2007
#3
  • May 11, 2007
  • #3
~FrankenStang~ said:
Glad you had the water with you! I think I'd about DIE if one of my foxes caught on fire.
Click to expand...


because you wouldnt get out of it.
 

Flavadave4

Active Member
Nov 28, 2003
1,044
21
49
Utica, NY
May 11, 2007
#4
  • May 11, 2007
  • #4
OMG.......thank God for bottled water!
 

FrankenStang

Now, give me a damn CT!
15 Year Member
Apr 16, 2005
4,461
70
129
Florence, Az
May 11, 2007
#5
  • May 11, 2007
  • #5
BK_CAULEY said:
because you wouldnt get out of it.
Click to expand...


You're really dumb if you think I'm that dumb.
 

BK_CAULEY

it's built for speed not longevity, woman
Dec 26, 2006
0
10
49
Thomasville, ga
May 11, 2007
#6
  • May 11, 2007
  • #6
~FrankenStang~ said:
You're really dumb if you think I'm that dumb.
Click to expand...

no no i dont think your dumb at all i really dont. i just think you really love them to much.
 

FrankenStang

Now, give me a damn CT!
15 Year Member
Apr 16, 2005
4,461
70
129
Florence, Az
May 11, 2007
#7
  • May 11, 2007
  • #7
BK_CAULEY said:
no no i dont think your dumb at all i really dont. i just think you really love them to much.
Click to expand...

Love them too much? LOL
 
T

TheUser

Active Member
Jul 25, 2003
1,859
1
36
Springfield, MO
May 11, 2007
#8
  • May 11, 2007
  • #8
Is the wiring the proper gauge for the amps and distance? What I'm getting at is: How did the fuse holder get hot enough to catch on fire? Obviously it's hot outside and all that, but don't you think it took a little help to catch on fire? A glass holder is a band-aid in my opinion.

You probably could have taken your shirt off and smothered the fire w/ it if it came down to it.

One time, my alternator wiring caught on fire on my old 91 LX 4cyc and I ended up using mountain dew to put the fire out. I used to carry a case of mtn dew behind my drivers seat before I stopped drinking soda 5 years ago.
 

Turkey Sammich

I can't fap normal. I cracked a rib, then my ankle
Jul 12, 2006
0
59
154
May 11, 2007
#9
  • May 11, 2007
  • #9
If you love it so much, why don't you just marry it
 

BK_CAULEY

it's built for speed not longevity, woman
Dec 26, 2006
0
10
49
Thomasville, ga
May 11, 2007
#10
  • May 11, 2007
  • #10
Turkey Sammich said:
If you love it so much, why don't you just marry it
Click to expand...

whateva... i do what i want!!
 

Turkey Sammich

I can't fap normal. I cracked a rib, then my ankle
Jul 12, 2006
0
59
154
May 11, 2007
#11
  • May 11, 2007
  • #11
BK_CAULEY said:
whateva... i do what i want!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have sex, and I don't use protection! It's my hot body; I'll do what I waunt! I don't go to school and I kill people! What-evah! I'll do what I waunt!
 

BK_CAULEY

it's built for speed not longevity, woman
Dec 26, 2006
0
10
49
Thomasville, ga
May 11, 2007
#12
  • May 11, 2007
  • #12
Turkey Sammich said:
Yeah, I have sex, and I don't use protection! It's my hot body; I'll do what I waunt! I don't go to school and I kill people! What-evah! I'll do what I waunt!
Click to expand...

classic
 

jrichker

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Mar 10, 2000
27,512
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Dublin GA
May 11, 2007
#13
  • May 11, 2007
  • #13
What typically happens with cheap plastic is that as the under hood temps rise, the plastic softens. Most of the studs used to connect the wiring depend on the plastic to be rigid to keep the connection between the parts tight.

As the plastic softens, the connections loosen, creating more resistance and thus more heat. At some point, enough heat is created to ignite the now molten plastic and start a fire.
 

Ozz

I think I have a problem here.
Founding Member
Jul 27, 2001
3,514
66
109
Canton, MI
May 11, 2007
#14
  • May 11, 2007
  • #14
If it came down to it, I'd pee on my car before I let it burn. If I had too, y'know...

Glad yours is ok, I know some people who weren't so lucky
 
C

caseywan

Member
Apr 7, 2006
157
0
17
Chicago, IL
May 11, 2007
#15
  • May 11, 2007
  • #15
Jeez, is it just me or has there been a lot of "my car caught on fire" threads in the past few months. I think I'm gonna get one of those mini fire extenguishers and keep it in my car!

Glad it wasn't worse man.
 

BigHairyMonkey

Founding Member
Jun 18, 2003
411
1
16
Houston (Bellaire) TX
May 11, 2007
#16
  • May 11, 2007
  • #16
TheUser said:
Is the wiring the proper gauge for the amps and distance? What I'm getting at is: How did the fuse holder get hot enough to catch on fire? Obviously it's hot outside and all that, but don't you think it took a little help to catch on fire? A glass holder is a band-aid in my opinion.

You probably could have taken your shirt off and smothered the fire w/ it if it came down to it.

One time, my alternator wiring caught on fire on my old 91 LX 4cyc and I ended up using mountain dew to put the fire out. I used to carry a case of mtn dew behind my drivers seat before I stopped drinking soda 5 years ago.
Click to expand...

the glass holder is a band-aid for now. the wiring is done legit w/ appropriate relays and such, BUT the parts used were not the best. Im going to redo the wiring next week as time/money permits.
 
S

Sicarius428

Active Member
Jan 6, 2004
2,085
5
49
May 11, 2007
#17
  • May 11, 2007
  • #17
I started carrying a fire extinguisher in the car since my friend let my spark plug wires rest on the headers and caught on fire. Leaves a mess afterwards though.
Kevin
 

88_GT_5_oh

Sportin' a turbo 5.0 in Canadistan
Jul 4, 2004
1
0
1
WPG/MB/CA
May 11, 2007
#18
  • May 11, 2007
  • #18
wow that sucks. about 2 years ago i went and picked up a mini fire extinguisher for automotive use, i just keep it in my back seat just in case, most people laugh and make the usual ford comments when they see it but if i need it i got it
 

Strippt88

New Member
Nov 24, 2006
81
0
0
Cedar Lake, Indiana
May 11, 2007
#19
  • May 11, 2007
  • #19
88_GT_5_oh said:
wow that sucks. about 2 years ago i went and picked up a mini fire extinguisher for automotive use, i just keep it in my back seat just in case, most people laugh and make the usual ford comments when they see it but if i need it i got it
Click to expand...

The key difference between you and the people making the Ford comments, you will at least try to put a fire out, they're pretty content letting they're cars burn- says a lot about what they think of they're own cars, huh?
 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta
Founding Member
Nov 22, 2001
3,501
28
119
Motor City
May 12, 2007
#20
  • May 12, 2007
  • #20
Scary thought....I have people come in my work looking for 5.0L hanress all the time...they say their cars are catching on fire..My notch is mostly stock and has all stock wiring....but I get nervous now and then!!
 
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