Car Question

[Guest]

Does anyone know anything about cars, I got into mine yesterday and turned the switch over so that just the electrical turned on while I went to put on my seat belt and my car went BOOM!

It started on fire, and is now a burned out shell in my driveway. I was wondering if a car could do that when there is no gas going to the engine with just the electrical on.

Thanks.

 

[ElizabethWest]

Does anyone know anything about cars, I got into mine yesterday and turned the switch over so that just the electrical turned on while I went to put on my seat belt and my car went BOOM!

It started on fire, and is now a burned out shell in my driveway. I was wondering if a car could do that when there is no gas going to the engine with just the electrical on.

Thanks.

Are you okay???


I know nothing about cars, can't help with that part.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

It started on fire, and is now a burned out shell in my driveway. I was wondering if a car could do that when there is no gas going to the engine with just the electrical on.

I don't know why... I'm not mechanically inclined... but I do know it IS possible...

when I was in college, a girl's car started on fire (engine fire) with no one in it. She looked out the window, and there was her car, on fire!

Good thing you're ok, Danielle... sorry about your car!

 

[Guest]

Are you okay???


I know nothing about cars, can't help with that part.

It was a fun time, I have a small defect with my heart and had some pain in my chest due to smoke inhalation and stress, the car was parked next to my house and my dogs were in there. I ended up with two fire engines, a rescue squad and an ambulance in front of my house.

They wanted me to go to the hospital but I'm too stubborn, so I'm home constantly being told to go to bed.

But thanks for caring

 

[BlackShanglan]

Dear lord, that's terrifying! I'm so relieved that you're safe (safe enough to post, at least).

I'd suggest looking online and/or contacting dealers to check on known flaws and recalls on the model. Some makes and models have idiosyncratic problems due to specific design issues. If it's a car that's still in manufacture, I would also contact the maker. It's important for them to know that a potentially lethal fault occurred; they may also be able to tell you if it's a problem specific to the model, although I wouldn't hold your breath on that. Fears of liability issues tend to make them closed-lipped about problems not thoroughly proven. That is, however, another reason to report the incident; if there is a flaw in the model, it's important to have documentation indicating that it is there and the company does know.

Shanglan

 

[ElizabethWest]

It was a fun time, I have a small defect with my heart and had some pain in my chest due to smoke inhalation and stress, the car was parked next to my house and my dogs were in there. I ended up with two fire engines, a rescue squad and an ambulance in front of my house.

They wanted me to go to the hospital but I'm too stubborn, so I'm home constantly being told to go to bed.

But thanks for caring

Dear Lord! PLease go to bed if that's the best thing for your heart! You poor thing.

 

[Guest]

Dear lord, that's terrifying! I'm so relieved that you're safe (safe enough to post, at least).

I'd suggest looking online and/or contacting dealers to check on known flaws and recalls on the model. Some makes and models have idiosyncratic problems due to specific design issues. If it's a car that's still in manufacture, I would also contact the maker. It's important for them to know that a potentially lethal fault occurred; they may also be able to tell you if it's a problem specific to the model, although I wouldn't hold your breath on that. Fears of liability issues tend to make them closed-lipped about problems not thoroughly proven. That is, however, another reason to report the incident; if there is a flaw in the model, it's important to have documentation indicating that it is there and the company does know.

Shanglan

It was an old car and had quite a few miles on it. So I'm not sure if the manufacturer would consider it to be a defect. But I'll do that as soon as I'm allowed to do anything. I hate people who hover and my little sister is a master at it...lol.

It was a little scary, especially when I went back and looked at the driver's side, it's destroyed. If I hadn't been able to get out, I wouldn't be posting today.

And thank you.

 

[rgraham666]

*HUGS* Danielle. I'm so glad you're safe.

Go to bed, young lady.

 

[English Lady]

*hugs* danielle -so glad you're safe take it easy, okay? I'm sorry, i know nothing about cars except they have wheels and tend not to blow up overly much...

 

[Guest]

I don't know why... I'm not mechanically inclined... but I do know it IS possible...

when I was in college, a girl's car started on fire (engine fire) with no one in it. She looked out the window, and there was her car, on fire!

Good thing you're ok, Danielle... sorry about your car!

Thanks SK, but just think about the story line with all of those strong fireman and ambulance attendants...sigh.

 

[ElizabethWest]

It was an old car and had quite a few miles on it. So I'm not sure if the manufacturer would consider it to be a defect. But I'll do that as soon as I'm allowed to do anything. I hate people who hover and my little sister is a master at it...lol.

It was a little scary, especially when I went back and looked at the driver's side, it's destroyed. If I hadn't been able to get out, I wouldn't be posting today.

And thank you.

*shiver*

Take Shang's advice, it couldn't hurt. Does anyone else wonder how a horsey knows so much about car things?

 

[Rope64]

Does anyone know anything about cars, I got into mine yesterday and turned the switch over so that just the electrical turned on while I went to put on my seat belt and my car went BOOM!

It started on fire, and is now a burned out shell in my driveway. I was wondering if a car could do that when there is no gas going to the engine with just the electrical on.

Thanks.

Do you have any connection to organized crime? I'm just asking ...

Seriously, though, where was the "BOOM" localized at? You clearly had some sort of short or an exposed and frayed connection in your electrical system, and presumably a fuel leak. Had the car been driven recently? (Was the engine cold? I'm guessing 'no.')

 

[R. Richard]

The only reasonable explanation is that two things were present:
1) An electrical short that caused a spark.
2) Fuel in the form of vapor. (Fuel burns, vapor goes BOOM!)

The most likely explanation is that there was a fuel leak somewhere in the eingine compartment. The fuel leak left a puddle of fuel and the puddle vaporized. If it is cold where you are, the electrical short may first have vaporized the fuel and then ignited the vapor.

Get the local fire department to look at it. If you can get the right guy, they can trace a fire back to cause. [That is how they determine that a fire is an arson fire.]

 

[Owlwhisper]

.....

 

[3113]

Do you have any connection to organized crime? I'm just asking ...

Ah, Rope, we really are in sync. I was thinking the exact same thing!

Danielle! the witness protection program isn't working! They know where you are!

I won't hover and nag you to rest...but I do have to ask...are the dogs all right?

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Thanks SK, but just think about the story line with all of those strong fireman and ambulance attendants...sigh.

Oh my god, I wasn't going to say it, but since YOU did! <grin>

I know, I thought of that too... I'm so bad...

 

[zeb1094]

Not much to add, except that if the car is fuel injected the minute you turn the key on the fuel pump also comes on and presurized the fuel lines and rails in the entire car. If a fuel rail has a little leak the gas may be forced out as a vapor. Then an errant spark of somekind could ignite it causing a 'BOOM' which then travels back to the source causing the fuel rail to split pouring gas into the flaming explosion. Or a crack in an injector may cause the same problem to occur.

Gald to hear you are alright my sweet kitten!

 

[Guest]

The dogs were fine, they enjoyed the attention they got from all the neighbors. Real attention sluts they are.

The car hadn't been driven since Friday afternoon, so two days of sitting in the driveway. I'd had it in to a mechanic a few weeks ago because it was making some funny noises and he managed to fix that for me.

And thanks all, it's been an interesting two days. I just watched an ambulance take my neighbor away. He's in his 80s and when I saw the flashing lights reflected in my windows I had a really bad deja vu moment.

Anybody have a used car they'd like to get rid of cheap?

 

[Guest]

Ah, Rope, we really are in sync. I was thinking the exact same thing!

Danielle! the witness protection program isn't working! They know where you are!

I won't hover and nag you to rest...but I do have to ask...are the dogs all right?

Damn them all, they know I squelled on Johnny. They'll be after me...

 

[Belegon]

Glad to hear you're alright...sorry about the car. It wasn't 'posed to do that, just puff a lil smoke and not start so you would go back inside and write more smut...*wink*

 

[MissBri]

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Sorry about your car, Danielle, but I'm glad to hear that you are okay.

 

[Rope64]

Ah, Rope, we really are in sync.

You should probably see someone about that ...

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the well wishes and good thoughts.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Does anyone know anything about cars, I got into mine yesterday and turned the switch over so that just the electrical turned on while I went to put on my seat belt and my car went BOOM!

It started on fire, and is now a burned out shell in my driveway. I was wondering if a car could do that when there is no gas going to the engine with just the electrical on.

Thanks.

Jeeze....I'm glad you are okay...yes, as soon as you turn the key to on the fuel rail is pressurized to between 40 and 60 lbs...