FIRE!.. guys, check your wiring looms!

[Htotheunit]

Happily riding along tonight to the snowdome to see if there was any dubs about (someone on Volks torque organized a mini meet) after getting my bay back from the body shop yesterday, and my electrics started playing up.. First my stereo cut, then my generator light came on.. so i stopped to check the engine bay wasn't somkin' then arriving back, i saw smoke coming from the vent behind my speedo, went to the back of the van to get my extinguisher but as i turned round i was hit by a wall of smoke. Knowing my luck the extinguisher did not work! so i ran to the snowdome, shouting my tits off.. When i arrived back with an extingisher and several security guys i saw flames.. several expletives and a fire extinguisher later the van was relatively 'unhurt', yet in desperate need of a new wiring loom. The fire brigade came, took out my battery and inspected the cause, which happened to be chafing wires under my dash


So guys, just a quick warning..

CHECK YOUR WIRING LOOMS!

especially underneath the steering column

just gotta wait until the morning to inspect the damage

 

[rob-stone]

:shock:
Bugger.

 

[super-craig]

:shock: so long has you and any passengers are ok ,
another point is always shake you extinguisher on a monthly basis to keep it from going off

 

[dp]

Nightmare :shock: - hope the damage ain't too bad. I guess there's not too much flamable under your dash luckily - electrical fires that start under seats can go pretty quick.

 

[Htotheunit]

Horror stories are always about fuel lines, i completely forgot about the risk of electrical fires.. but now i've had one, i know i'll keep an eye on any wires there are with a risk of chafing :?

 

[Guest]

so glad for you that it turned out well, phew. I hate hearing about burnt buses

Auto extinguisher in the engine bay (soon) and a decent one inside too, for me. :wink:

 

[froggy]

Think one of my next buys is gonna be an Extinguisher.
Will a POWDER Extinguisher be OK or should i opt for a Co2?

 

[Guest]

CO2 is no use as the gas can dispearse especially in an engine fire and the hot engine can spark the fire again. Get either powder or foam if you can afford it. Foam is easy to wash off but powder is a bugger and takes some scrubbing.

If it for the inside of the van powder should be good enough and a bit cheaper than the others.

 

[Haveacamper]

Soz to hear about the fire mate. i tidied up the wiring loom behind my dash not long after i got my bay. its surprising the amount of crap that gathers there that can help a fire start. i had an accumulation of dust and overpray from PO spray job, not to mention a load of wires crossing over eachother and lying across uninsulated switch terminals.

i'd seriously reccomend keeping it clean behind there and make sure that the wires are in safe distance of the windscreen wiper mechanism.

NaFe

 

[Speedman]

Luck escape :wink:

Sadly the chap in the red Bay on the M4 last night near Maidenhead wasn't as lucky, three fire engines and a burnt out shell was all that was left

 

[super-craig]

fire extinguishers you want to get a powder ABC type at least 2kg , the same as they put in psv vehicles , get a minimum 13a rated one or two :wink:

 

[Tofufi]

Sorry to hear that dude.

Would not be a good time to suggest checking fuel lines too?

These were on my van for about 5 miles of driving (to and from MOTs) and were not spotted on the MOT (can't blame them though!)

:shock:

 

[Htotheunit]

Just brought myself a powder extinguisher, does gas, petrol and electrical fires.. getting the wiring re done this week, big thanks to the guys at custom resto and race for fitting it in

 

[rob-stone]

Glad to hear its getting sorted. You must be Griffs most valued customer now
A few years ago i changed the headlights on my Mini. The sidelight connection shorted on the headlamp bowl. One night when driving back from Bonds, i pulled up behind a car then noticed my headlights dimming...then smoke rising from under the bonnet :shock: Ended up driving home with no lights, then continued driving it daily but making sure i got home befor dark I later learned how to re-wire a car.
Needless to say you wont ge going to BusTypes? A few of us Tamworth lot are camping over.

 

[Htotheunit]

Needless to say you wont ge going to BusTypes? A few of us Tamworth lot are camping over.

Well, Griff says it should be out later this week, i think it's like a priority job as it was a pretty serious problem (plus he must be getting sick of seeing it! :lol: ).. So hopefully i shall be there, if i don't have the van, i'll pop down one day to get a few parts.. Would be nice cruising down with the tammie crew though! In fact i was discussing bus types with Griff the day before it happened

Fingers crossed guys! :lol:

 

[vil]

Wooah! Sorry to hear the bad news! Lucky escape though. I have always kept a fire extinguisher in my VW's though, they don't exactly look cool but they could save a lot of heartache! Good to hear Griff's on the case though, I will have to go down and see him, I have'nt seen him in a while (since he lowered my old PT Cruiser for me..., DON'T ASK!!) :lol: