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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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?
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!!
