Not real sure about modern day stuff, but I know some dry chem extinguishers, the powder is corrosive, and is very hard on your electrical components/wiring.
Whoot... Engine fire.
- Thread starter CSquared
- Start date
lol fortunately/unfortunately there's nothing really to take any pictures of. I installed a new alternator today and found the ALT fuse melted to my fuse box in the process. After that, the car fired right up and runs fine, aside from looking like somebody threw a bag of flour on top of my engine and all over the front of the car.
But since you want pics... Here they are:
New extinguisher... Took out that black tray and used stock screw hole with some sticky tape on the bottom portion of the plastic bracket.
Another view...
With the hatch cover down
It disappeared!
Engine bay pic 1... It was a LOT worse than this but i took an air hose and a shop rag to it at work today.
A full engine bay pic...
Rear shot for the hell of it... back seats are for women.
Another rear shot for the hell of it... got to love running rich.
I somehow passed the alternator off as a core, so the clip is the only thing i have left that looks visibly affected by the fire. (I had to drive about an hour and a half to get my hands on another, but props again to tubbie)
All in all it was a really interesting learning experience for me. Along with the extinguisher I am now going to start carrying around a mini tool set... You never fucking know with these cars... and knowing is half the battle. :biglaugh:
But since you want pics... Here they are:
New extinguisher... Took out that black tray and used stock screw hole with some sticky tape on the bottom portion of the plastic bracket.
Another view...
With the hatch cover down
It disappeared!
Engine bay pic 1... It was a LOT worse than this but i took an air hose and a shop rag to it at work today.
A full engine bay pic...
Rear shot for the hell of it... back seats are for women.
Another rear shot for the hell of it... got to love running rich.
I somehow passed the alternator off as a core, so the clip is the only thing i have left that looks visibly affected by the fire. (I had to drive about an hour and a half to get my hands on another, but props again to tubbie)
All in all it was a really interesting learning experience for me. Along with the extinguisher I am now going to start carrying around a mini tool set... You never fucking know with these cars... and knowing is half the battle. :biglaugh:
Man, that's one toasted alternator. The melted fuse area implies you indeed had an electrical problem that shouldn't have happened. If I were you I'd be searching long and hard for the root cause.
That POS dry chem extinguisher is better than nothing but you should've sprung for Halon. I'll never understand why people cheap out on on safety gear. Putting it in the trunk was mistake too. And better clean up that mess in the engine compartment because as was pointed out it's corrosive. Other than that you done good
That POS dry chem extinguisher is better than nothing but you should've sprung for Halon. I'll never understand why people cheap out on on safety gear. Putting it in the trunk was mistake too. And better clean up that mess in the engine compartment because as was pointed out it's corrosive. Other than that you done good
nothing like an engine fire to teach you a lesson
i had a fire a few years ago caused by an oil line rupturing. the way i had it installed the oil line was chaffing on the inside against the fitting and on the way back from a 300 mile trip it sprung a leak!
i posted pictures of it a while back.
9 hours of wire harness repair and i had it running again.
it really taught me to be more careful with how i install things.
i too didnt have an extinguisher but i was able to use a shirt to put the fire out.
i had a fire a few years ago caused by an oil line rupturing. the way i had it installed the oil line was chaffing on the inside against the fitting and on the way back from a 300 mile trip it sprung a leak!
i posted pictures of it a while back.
9 hours of wire harness repair and i had it running again.
it really taught me to be more careful with how i install things.
i too didnt have an extinguisher but i was able to use a shirt to put the fire out.
jetjock said:Man, that's one toasted alternator. The melted fuse area implies you indeed had an electrical problem that shouldn't have happened. If I were you I'd be searching long and hard for the root cause.
That POS dry chem extinguisher is better than nothing but you should've sprung for Halon. I'll never understand why people cheap out on on safety gear. Putting it in the trunk was mistake too. And better clean up that mess in the engine compartment because as was pointed out it's corrosive. Other than that you done good
While keeping in mind that i know nothing about electronics... Where do you suggest i begin?
Just sounds like a short and that's why it wouldn't go out!
<hint> if it happens again disconnect a battery cable <end hint>
This happened to Allan's black car and is why I never bothered changing over to a GTE alternator.
<hint> if it happens again disconnect a battery cable <end hint>
This happened to Allan's black car and is why I never bothered changing over to a GTE alternator.
Well, the fire occurred because the over-current device didn't protect the circuit. So you have two issues: 1) What caused the over-current and 2) Why didn't the fuse cut it off. The alternator probably was the cause of the fire so it's likely a one time deal but you need to make sure the wiring and fuse is correct in case something happens again. Fuses are there to protect wiring, not loads.
nosechunks: Halon packs way more punch than other suppression agents. It doesn't smother or cool a fire the way other agents do, it chemically kills fire dead. That means a smaller extinguisher can be used. For car use a 2.5 or 3 pounder would be more than sufficient. Even a 1 pounder packs a lot of suppression into a small size. The other nice thing is no matter what you buy it'll only increase in value thanks to halon being a banned CFC. If you never have a need for the best fire suppressant known you can sell it at a profit. How sweet is that?
Try and get a 1211/1301 halon blend. It's more effective and makes it's own pressure even when nearly empty. You can tell a blended extinguisher from a straight 1211 one because it won't have a pressure gage. If you can't get a blend 1211 alone will do. 1211 comes out as a liquid and turns to gas. It'll allow you to stand back. Try ebay for decent deals but expect to pay more than for dry chem. I own a car that runs 85 psi of fuel pressure. It worries me to the point I'm thinking of installing a fire bottle and piping in it like race cars and airplanes have.
All that said prevention is important. Do maintenance properly, don't hack wiring, fix all leaks, keep the engine clean, etc. Save your Halon for chumps who don't. It's either that or spend the money you saved buying dry chem on marshmallows
nosechunks: Halon packs way more punch than other suppression agents. It doesn't smother or cool a fire the way other agents do, it chemically kills fire dead. That means a smaller extinguisher can be used. For car use a 2.5 or 3 pounder would be more than sufficient. Even a 1 pounder packs a lot of suppression into a small size. The other nice thing is no matter what you buy it'll only increase in value thanks to halon being a banned CFC. If you never have a need for the best fire suppressant known you can sell it at a profit. How sweet is that?
Try and get a 1211/1301 halon blend. It's more effective and makes it's own pressure even when nearly empty. You can tell a blended extinguisher from a straight 1211 one because it won't have a pressure gage. If you can't get a blend 1211 alone will do. 1211 comes out as a liquid and turns to gas. It'll allow you to stand back. Try ebay for decent deals but expect to pay more than for dry chem. I own a car that runs 85 psi of fuel pressure. It worries me to the point I'm thinking of installing a fire bottle and piping in it like race cars and airplanes have.
All that said prevention is important. Do maintenance properly, don't hack wiring, fix all leaks, keep the engine clean, etc. Save your Halon for chumps who don't. It's either that or spend the money you saved buying dry chem on marshmallows
IJ. said:
ha... i grabbed at that bastard with my fingers and cursed myself for leaving the tool set out of my car. I'm actually about to pick another small one up from walmart... As well as go to the local 24hr self serve car wash to clean my engine bay.
jetjock said:
I really appreciate your input as well as the input of everyone else who has replied. I am really hoping that this was just a one shot deal and have a real strong feeling the alternator itself was in fact the cause.
Cramer: You can buy a quick disconnect terminal that has a big green knob just in case !
($6 from fleabay)
!($6 from fleabay)
The main thing is you weren't hurt and learned a lesson to boot. The car can be replaced. So sayeth GI Joe
Or a Battery Brain. That way he can turn it off by remote control
http://tinyurl.com/2orqky
http://tinyurl.com/3alhc5
http://tinyurl.com/2orqky
http://tinyurl.com/3alhc5
That way the car would at least have 1jetjock said:Or a Battery Brain. That way he can turn it off by remote control
http://tinyurl.com/2orqky
http://tinyurl.com/3alhc5
<jk>
ha i appreciate all of your comments/sarcasm.
A few final notes... The car is running fine aside from a slight hesitation since i tried to power wash the engine without getting anything in the plug valley... Apparently I sucked that up... but everything looks nice and shiny.
And... Along with the fire extinguisher I'm pretty sure i now have enough tools in my trunk to swap out a headgasket in your local walmart parking lot.
A few final notes... The car is running fine aside from a slight hesitation since i tried to power wash the engine without getting anything in the plug valley... Apparently I sucked that up... but everything looks nice and shiny.
And... Along with the fire extinguisher I'm pretty sure i now have enough tools in my trunk to swap out a headgasket in your local walmart parking lot.
Interesting read. I'm going to go buy up a 2-3lb. Halon extingisher while out at home depot today. :aigo:
