Author Topic: Jeep Burst into Flames  (Read 1363 times)

Offline calvynandhobbs

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Jeep Burst into Flames
« on: July 09, 2009, 10:26:32 PM »
A friend of mine from my previous employer in North Carolina sent this to me this afternoon. I used to work with Jim, the guy who's Jeep burst into flames. He was the head of our engineering department. I'll have to send him an email in a couple days to see if they found the cause.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5536387/

1994 YJ on 37s

PaulW

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Re: Jeep Burst into Flames
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2009, 10:29:42 PM »
sick

Offline BlacXJeep

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Re: Jeep Burst into Flames
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2009, 10:41:36 PM »
Weird. I once pulled over because I saw an suv on the shoulder with balls of fire dripping from the oil pan area. The Jamacian couple was standing right next to the vehicle with their arms folded. I just had a bad feeling so I parked about 80ft behind them and yelled for them to get away from the car, and dailed 9-1-1. Within less than a minuted the whole thing burst into flames. Not something you see everyday. Wonder what caused this one.
Andy Doucette - A.K.A.(Douce)
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Offline BayouGold

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Re: Jeep Burst into Flames
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2009, 11:11:07 PM »
wow that's crazy. good think he saw the smoke first it looks like
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Offline rocket

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Re: Jeep Burst into Flames
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2009, 11:45:05 PM »
Most of the time auto fires are started by an electrical fault.  though a leaking gas line will do it, too.
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PaulW

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Re: Jeep Burst into Flames
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2009, 03:08:51 AM »
I had a pontiac sunfire that caught on fire about 7 years ago.  Relay was stuck on for the cooling fan and the wires melted and car went up.

Offline rocket

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Re: Jeep Burst into Flames
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2009, 02:31:23 PM »
I had a pontiac sunfire that caught on fire about 7 years ago.  Relay was stuck on for the cooling fan and the wires melted and car went up.

Stuff like that, or "custom" wiring by people who are clueless on proper wiring techniques (i've seen a few scary wiring jobs in the club.  feel free to talk to me about custom wiring, you can see what I did on my truck as an example of how it should be).

If you have an older vehicle, it is important to check your fuel lines at least annualy, esp. the flexible ones.  I had rubber fuel lines on my el camino completly fail (hoses were less than 5 yrs old).  If you are going to run rubber, get the braided stainless hoses, they tend to be higher quality and resist abrasion better (who here isn't smashing and dragging on the rocks?).  They can also handle higher pressures.  You can get them in teflon, too.  Those can handle a lot more pressure and are less sensitive to the environment (engine heat, oil, mud, UV, etc).
1973 Chevy El Camino: 383 sb, lots of power
2004 Toyota Tacoma TRD 3.4L xtra cab 2.5" skyjacker coilovers/leafs, 32x11.5-15" Super Swamper TSL/SXs, Bent-up front bumper, smittybilt winch, 4xInovations sliders, Bud-built skids, custom rear bumper/light bar, hella lights, "custom" body work

PaulW

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Re: Jeep Burst into Flames
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2009, 02:35:57 PM »
I had a pontiac sunfire that caught on fire about 7 years ago.  Relay was stuck on for the cooling fan and the wires melted and car went up.

Stuff like that, or "custom" wiring by people who are clueless on proper wiring techniques (i've seen a few scary wiring jobs in the club.  feel free to talk to me about custom wiring, you can see what I did on my truck as an example of how it should be).

If you have an older vehicle, it is important to check your fuel lines at least annualy, esp. the flexible ones.  I had rubber fuel lines on my el camino completly fail (hoses were less than 5 yrs old).  If you are going to run rubber, get the braided stainless hoses, they tend to be higher quality and resist abrasion better (who here isn't smashing and dragging on the rocks?).  They can also handle higher pressures.  You can get them in teflon, too.  Those can handle a lot more pressure and are less sensitive to the environment (engine heat, oil, mud, UV, etc).

Last shop I worked at we used to pull cars from south windsor auction.  a lot of them were once upon a time equipped with ghetto blasters stereos.  i have seen everything from 00 gauge wire run through the DOOR JAM, to 4 gauge wire with a 24 gauge fuse holder, to an amp ground actually attached to a fuel line.  Talk about SCARY wiring!!!