Electrical Fire
#51
Originally Posted by abbid
I find your post rather offensive. You suggest all members of the RX8 club are nothing but a bunch of uneducated horndawgs that crap on every thread regardless of substance. This isnt the lounge, and ill go back in and clean up all posts that suggest otherwise. You want intelligent conversation? Send a PM to anyone in the tech garage. Even send a message to Rotarygod. He's got the title for a reason and he has even been called out by name over at rotarynews for his intelligence regarding this engine and synthetic oils.. We continue to tell the original poster that this is a unique encounter, but for some reason she doesn't want to accept that. What more can we do if the OP doesnt want to take in any information we give? Next time try reading the whole thread before you nitpick typos or your analysis on average forum age..
Want to talk offended? How about the thread entitled "Hit and Run by a Big Vagina last night...."
#52
Registered
I don't think it was electrical and should, you would think, be investigated further. Do you have any pictures of the "remains?"
As to mice/rats eating stuff, a few years ago my grandma had a whole bunch of hoses chewed up in her Dodge Ram and her Dodge Caravan and had to get them replaced. Nothing electrical was chewed on. I wonder what exactly is in the material they use to make the hoses that they seem to like so much?
As to mice/rats eating stuff, a few years ago my grandma had a whole bunch of hoses chewed up in her Dodge Ram and her Dodge Caravan and had to get them replaced. Nothing electrical was chewed on. I wonder what exactly is in the material they use to make the hoses that they seem to like so much?
#53
Metatron
iTrader: (1)
Labutler....
I wouldn't put too much faith in "Pathstar1" on Edmunds - he is possibly a mechanic, but far from an RX expert.
I have discussed things in "his" forum before. He was just explaining that the Renesis runs rich to "keep the cat hot" - a good guess, but just 180 degrees from correct.
S
I have discussed things in "his" forum before. He was just explaining that the Renesis runs rich to "keep the cat hot" - a good guess, but just 180 degrees from correct.
S
#54
I gave you as much of the story as I know, but I'll repeat it just how I told the car insurance people on the record. I got in at about 6am. About 15-20 minutes later, my friend realized she left her purse in my car. She went and got it out of the trunk, and there didn't APPEAR to be a problem. All she used was the trunk button...no turning on the car, no getting in the car. So I went to bed. My apartment faces the parking lot. Probably 10 minutes later, my car alarm started going off. I grabbed my keys, thinking someone was breaking into my car and then the alarm went off. Before I got outside, the alarm went from "beep beep" to one long "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep". When I got outside my neighbors had called the fire dept. Now, the fire did origintate in the engine area (I don't know where, because I was looking at it from the side). It began underneath the front hood. The fire went under the car and hit the fuel tank, which caused a mini explosion. The firemen could only contain the fire, not put it out, until the gas tank was empty. There is NO interior damage (well, I mean, smokey), it's all under the car and trunk and hood damage. It literally melted down to the ground. No foul play noted. No ex's that hate me, no stalkers that I am aware of (unless he is really good at it). I am going to try to get pics tonight and the tow place. My dad is bringing me another car tonight. But if it's locked, I won't get any. Otherwise, I will show you true evidence as soon as the pics from state farm get mailed to me. I will also keep you updated on the investigation!
#55
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have read of stories (from this site back in 2003-2004) where if you park under some dry grass or leaves and if the car has been running for a while, it may catch fire. Not really an electrical fire, but could this be the case?
#56
I highly doubt it, but I will look into it. We had a snow storm last weekend, and whereas the roads are great, the parking spots still have ice! I did leave it sitting for about 4 days, and one of the recalls was looking into the engine/engine cooling system. I took it in to Mazda, but they only replace it if it had a problem. I have a call into Mazda right now to see if it was replaced, or just checked. Could this be it?????? I am asking, please don't yell at me!
#57
I think the firemen probably call all fires like that electrical if they don't see foul play. Interesting problem. Hopefully we can see some pics. I don't know if anyone here will be able to help, except that like many have said, this is a first for many of us.
#59
Registered
Originally Posted by hoosier
I think the firemen probably call all fires like that electrical if they don't see foul play.
Fire starting under the hood wouldn't be consistent with a Cat fire. If the insurance company does a good investigation, their conclusion will definitely be interesting.
arosenkrans - IMHO it's a long shot that anyone here will do a better detective job than the insurance company. Assuming the insurance company cares enough to take a good look. One thing you can take from this forum is that spontaneous combustion is not a chronic problem with the RX-8. If it was (like those two sites you posted claimed it to be) there would be dozens of threads with people complaining about it. Look at the number of threads on oil, and oil isn't even a problem.
The rough time you got was from those two web sites you posted.
Ken
#60
1.21 Jiggawatts
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lima, OH
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Im sorry to hear about yur fire...that totally sucks...almost worse than all the hit-and-runs that i've heard of lately!
You have my sympathy...pick up another one with the insurance money.
Contrary to the false postings you may have read elsewhere, the 8 is NOT usually subject to spontanous combustion. This is the first case i've ever heard of.
You'll be safe in another one
You have my sympathy...pick up another one with the insurance money.
Contrary to the false postings you may have read elsewhere, the 8 is NOT usually subject to spontanous combustion. This is the first case i've ever heard of.
You'll be safe in another one
#61
Your Mom is ******
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: East Bay
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
no one seems to suggest that this may have been caused by a lazy tech at the dealership she took it to, when was the last time you had your car serviced?
Sometimes **** just happens, it sucks, but hopefully, you will get through this, get a new RX8, maybe, and move on
If this is such a unique happening, and most if not all of us have never heard of anything , with validity of course, like this before, then its safe to say it was a freak accident
I am very sorry for your loss and that no one can really give you a piece of mind
i just recently bought my first RX8, upgrading from an S5 convertable (second slowest RX7 ever produced, the S4 verts were slower) and it is like a dream to me, i dont know what i would think, say or do if i lost it in such a manner that blame cant really be placed
some people are too critical or analytical so see the fact that they come out sounding like dicks, and then, some people just are dicks so i wouldnt place too much time into what people say if they are just being dicks and have nothing helpful to offer
I hope this nightmare ends for you soon and you get another RX8
Sometimes **** just happens, it sucks, but hopefully, you will get through this, get a new RX8, maybe, and move on
If this is such a unique happening, and most if not all of us have never heard of anything , with validity of course, like this before, then its safe to say it was a freak accident
I am very sorry for your loss and that no one can really give you a piece of mind
i just recently bought my first RX8, upgrading from an S5 convertable (second slowest RX7 ever produced, the S4 verts were slower) and it is like a dream to me, i dont know what i would think, say or do if i lost it in such a manner that blame cant really be placed
some people are too critical or analytical so see the fact that they come out sounding like dicks, and then, some people just are dicks so i wouldnt place too much time into what people say if they are just being dicks and have nothing helpful to offer
I hope this nightmare ends for you soon and you get another RX8
Last edited by tournapart; 12-11-2006 at 10:08 PM.
#62
Banned
Join Date: May 2006
Location: In the hills between San Miguel and Parkfield - "up in the boonie lands", Central Coast of California, Wine Country
Posts: 734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We feel your pain but grow ever more puzzled
This is getting wierder - there is no engine under the hood - smoke could come up from a burning engine or something but the engine is sort of under the interior and the cat and hot stuff more in the back around the trunk area....the lack of interior damage is a clue - Does your friend smoke by any chance? Could she have accidently dropped a cigarette into the trunk? (gas tank?)
It does sound more like sloppy tech work as there should be no gas, oil, etc. leaks and unless you got a plastic bag stuck up there (as does happen sometimes) I can't think of anything that should ignite. 8s are not perfect but they were engineered with a little racing in mind and I've been told they were designed to resist burning during accidents. Heat problems are not unknown - one of the reason for putting in firewalls- Your friend should have reached into the trunk - did she notice any unusual warmth, smoke or smells?
This is getting wierder - there is no engine under the hood - smoke could come up from a burning engine or something but the engine is sort of under the interior and the cat and hot stuff more in the back around the trunk area....the lack of interior damage is a clue - Does your friend smoke by any chance? Could she have accidently dropped a cigarette into the trunk? (gas tank?)
It does sound more like sloppy tech work as there should be no gas, oil, etc. leaks and unless you got a plastic bag stuck up there (as does happen sometimes) I can't think of anything that should ignite. 8s are not perfect but they were engineered with a little racing in mind and I've been told they were designed to resist burning during accidents. Heat problems are not unknown - one of the reason for putting in firewalls- Your friend should have reached into the trunk - did she notice any unusual warmth, smoke or smells?
#63
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
Originally Posted by arosenkrans
I highly doubt it, but I will look into it. We had a snow storm last weekend, and whereas the roads are great, the parking spots still have ice! I did leave it sitting for about 4 days, and one of the recalls was looking into the engine/engine cooling system. I took it in to Mazda, but they only replace it if it had a problem. I have a call into Mazda right now to see if it was replaced, or just checked. Could this be it?????? I am asking, please don't yell at me!
where are you and what mazda dealership was it in???
beers
#66
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Liberty Hill, TX (Austin)
Posts: 886
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In fact, many RX8's have been mangled in pretty nasty accidents and have not caught fire. Only one comes to mind, and it was because teenagers decided to fly it from an overpass and land it upside down.
Anyway, sorry to hear about it. Hopefully, your insurance will play nice and you will be riding in style again soon.
Anyway, sorry to hear about it. Hopefully, your insurance will play nice and you will be riding in style again soon.
#68
Misfit Moderator TnC
Originally Posted by labutler
arosenkrans.... sorry to hear about your car. from a fellow female 8 driver who's lurked around this site for about 2 years, don't get upset about the response here. I've decided that the average age here is 12 or less and the average IQ is even lower. it can be somewhat entertaining if you're in the right mood.
next time, post a picture of a naked lady, talk about gettin' drunk and laid by a bitch with big **** and then ask your question. It will also help to misspell common words (like "HOLY CARP" as posted somewhere above).
Want an intelligent conversation about your fire? Go to Edmunds.com and post your question there. a guy with the username pathstar knows more about the rotary than anyone I've ever encountered.
next time, post a picture of a naked lady, talk about gettin' drunk and laid by a bitch with big **** and then ask your question. It will also help to misspell common words (like "HOLY CARP" as posted somewhere above).
Want an intelligent conversation about your fire? Go to Edmunds.com and post your question there. a guy with the username pathstar knows more about the rotary than anyone I've ever encountered.
#69
Pining for the Fjords
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by labutler
arosenkrans.... sorry to hear about your car. from a fellow female 8 driver who's lurked around this site for about 2 years, don't get upset about the response here. I've decided that the average age here is 12 or less and the average IQ is even lower. it can be somewhat entertaining if you're in the right mood.
next time, post a picture of a naked lady, talk about gettin' drunk and laid by a bitch with big **** and then ask your question. It will also help to misspell common words (like "HOLY CARP" as posted somewhere above).
next time, post a picture of a naked lady, talk about gettin' drunk and laid by a bitch with big **** and then ask your question. It will also help to misspell common words (like "HOLY CARP" as posted somewhere above).
Congrats, labutler, your post is at least as offensive as anything directed at arosenkrans... Who seems a little thin-skinned about this whole thing. Anyone who's savvy enough to find this board, get a "screen name", and activate the account probably has some internet message board experience. If you've ever seen a message board, you know that sometimes you need to endure a little abuse, and you just ignore it... Not pout and say that everyone is being a jerk to you.
Anyhoo...
As for this fire, I'm not doubting that it occurred. However, seeing as how this is the first time I've ever heard of an 8 just burning up, certain questions obviously come to the forefront. Since the car was parked on ice, we can probably assume that the OAT was at or below freezing, so it seems highly unlikely that it was started by any overheating problems. Even a hot converter won't stay hot for long in those temps after you turn off the car. If your friend retrieved her purse after the car had been sitting for 15-20mins (and presumably saw nothing amiss), I guess it's safe to say that whatever ended up burning the car hadn't made much, if any, progress at that point or she would've noticed it. Barring any strong wind to blow it away, I'd say that she would've smelled smoke if there were any. Obviously the fire didn't start inside the car if the interior is unscathed.
I'm not an arson expert, but for a fire to start on a car after it's been sitting in the cold for 15mins or so seems suspicious. By "suspicious" I mean that the circumstances under which it started may not have anything to do with the wiring or anything else to do with the car itself. It's not unheard of for cars to spontaneously catch fire, but usually it happens when the car is running (this happened to one of my best friends, when his Mitsubishi Colt caught fire on the highway and then burned to the ground on the shoulder as he watched).
Pending the report from your insurance company, which may not exactly be an in-depth analysis of the event, I'd be more inclined to think of this as an arson event or the result of shoddy aftermarket wiring. Since you claim no knowledge of any wiring having been meddled with... Well, come to your own conclusion.
Then again, maybe the first owner did something to the car that you're not aware of. I'd hope that the Mazda dealer would've noticed any funny business under your hood on those occasions when you had it in the shop.
#70
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by DrDiaboloco
As for this fire, I'm not doubting that it occurred. However, seeing as how this is the first time I've ever heard of an 8 just burning up, certain questions obviously come to the forefront. Since the car was parked on ice, we can probably assume that the OAT was at or below freezing, so it seems highly unlikely that it was started by any overheating problems. Even a hot converter won't stay hot for long in those temps after you turn off the car. If your friend retrieved her purse after the car had been sitting for 15-20mins (and presumably saw nothing amiss), I guess it's safe to say that whatever ended up burning the car hadn't made much, if any, progress at that point or she would've noticed it. Barring any strong wind to blow it away, I'd say that she would've smelled smoke if there were any. Obviously the fire didn't start inside the car if the interior is unscathed.
I'm not an arson expert, but for a fire to start on a car after it's been sitting in the cold for 15mins or so seems suspicious. By "suspicious" I mean that the circumstances under which it started may not have anything to do with the wiring or anything else to do with the car itself. It's not unheard of for cars to spontaneously catch fire, but usually it happens when the car is running (this happened to one of my best friends, when his Mitsubishi Colt caught fire on the highway and then burned to the ground on the shoulder as he watched).
Pending the report from your insurance company, which may not exactly be an in-depth analysis of the event, I'd be more inclined to think of this as an arson event or the result of shoddy aftermarket wiring. Since you claim no knowledge of any wiring having been meddled with... Well, come to your own conclusion.
Then again, maybe the first owner did something to the car that you're not aware of. I'd hope that the Mazda dealer would've noticed any funny business under your hood on those occasions when you had it in the shop.
I'm not an arson expert, but for a fire to start on a car after it's been sitting in the cold for 15mins or so seems suspicious. By "suspicious" I mean that the circumstances under which it started may not have anything to do with the wiring or anything else to do with the car itself. It's not unheard of for cars to spontaneously catch fire, but usually it happens when the car is running (this happened to one of my best friends, when his Mitsubishi Colt caught fire on the highway and then burned to the ground on the shoulder as he watched).
Pending the report from your insurance company, which may not exactly be an in-depth analysis of the event, I'd be more inclined to think of this as an arson event or the result of shoddy aftermarket wiring. Since you claim no knowledge of any wiring having been meddled with... Well, come to your own conclusion.
Then again, maybe the first owner did something to the car that you're not aware of. I'd hope that the Mazda dealer would've noticed any funny business under your hood on those occasions when you had it in the shop.
I tried follow the whole story - it seems to be presented in parts across several posts. You hit on a key point here - the time between the car being parked and the friend getting her purse from the trunk seems suspiciously long. I can see walking away from a hot car and not noticing the first smoldering start of a fire which then spreads, but if the car is burning fiercly 30 minutes later then there should have been some intermediate evidence of fire after the first 20 minutes. Too odd.
Unlike many on this board I watched a car of mine burn firsthand. Different circumstances; back in 1997 I was run off the road and smashed into a tree at 50mph. Something ruptured in the engine compartment of my Pontiac Sunfire and a nice gas/oil fire developed. After ~10 minutes there was a column of flame the diameter of my engine compartment roaring and snapping 30 feet in the air. Over the next few minutes I watched the fire burn its way back through the passenger compartment and head for the gas tank. The firemen blasted the car with their pressure hoses (blowing away the shattered elements of the cracked windows) almost as soon as they screeched to a halt. I figure they only had minutes of margin before that gas tank would have ignited, but they had the fire out in seconds. Not contained, not controlled - out. A car fire isn't really so large for a regular fire truck. (Original Poster - what sort of truck and fire company responded to the call? Was it a professional city/county unit or volunteer?)
So, having witnessed a car burn before my own eyes and having inspected the damage that day and later at the wrecking yard it's incredible to me the interior of the original poster's car was undamaged. My insurance company had to get a mileage figure for my car from the tire shop who had last worked on my car because the odometer had melted. My pager had fallen into the driver's footwell and it melted into a misshaped lump from the heat. My oldest daughter's carseat was fried and singed all around the edges. That made a good picture for the insurance company - "Pay my $^@&*ing property settlement Mr. Claims Assessor - we're all soooo lucky there was no personal injury for you to be settling."
Others here have commented, 'RX-8s don't commonly do this.....' I'll go one further, "cars that burn don't commmonly burn as described here." I'd really like to know more of the story (and pics, pics, pics!) because it seems like some critical elements of the story are missing.
Obviously, the quick, knee-jerk analysis of 'electrical fire' is uninformed, unsubstantiated and foolish. It's a shame the firemen wouldn't simply say, "dunno" as the scene. Maybe they didn't understand the whole story of how the car was "fine" after 20 minutes.
As for the Mazda dealer noticing any sub-standard mods made by the previous owner - I doubt it. If she was in for regular service or even routine TSBs at an average dealership - I wouldn't expect them to notice anything unrelated to the specific tasks. Too many people here have reported dipsticks, engine covers and even oil caps not reinstalled after routine dealer service. I went to two appointments where the service center claimed to have done "full circle" inspection/service and yet my low-coolant light came on when I started the car. No offense to our members here who work in service centers, but I'd go so far as to say it's possible her Mazda dealership could have missed a fuel leak, but a fuel leak doesn't fit with her friend finding no problem 20 minutes after the car was parked.
Interesting story - sounds like arson to me based on the posted story, but I wasn't there to see.
#71
the stig is my hero
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NC
Posts: 701
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by arosenkrans
I am not a smoker. Would you call BS on your daughter?
We're of course sorry that your car exploded or whatever, but if you are who you say you are, you're a 24 year old ADULT. Stop crying for sympathy like a spoiled 16 year old who crashed their first car.
Grow up.
#72
Pining for the Fjords
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Cool-Blue-Dad
Well reasoned and well spoken. I hope you don't feel too out of place here.
#73
Misfit Moderator TnC
hence the reason why the flag and meter were posted up. had there been any logical reasoning other than heresay it would not have been posted. no pics, no substantial proof of the reason for the fire, and all assumptions! then the posters here get called 12 year old horndogs and insulted! post something real and you will get sympathy....please prove me to be wrong! and guess what if it were my daughters car then Abofukinglutely i would question everything and have bs meters every where because i would want the complete truth on exactly what happened.....dont think thats happening here....too many story gaps
#74
Mr. T is my copilot
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: los angeles
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by chrism
guess what if it were my daughters car then Abofukinglutely i would question everything and have bs meters every where because i would want the complete truth on exactly what happened.....
call me an ******* but i cant yet believe this rx-8 burned down. also, OP seems a little lacking in the maturity department for a 24 year old...and too eager to point out that she is just a helpless little girl
give us some pics!!!
#75
Pining for the Fjords
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by captain mercury
give us some pics!!!
Sorry, couldn't help myself... My IQ is 11, after all.