Engine caught fire!
Discussion
Hey folks,
Been a while since I posted as not much has been going on with the Tuscan... until tonight!
Parked up and turned the engine off. Suddenly there was a load of white smoke which looked like steam coming from the engine bay. As I got out there was an explosion from the passenger side and I could see sparks and flames coming from where the anderson connector is.
The security from a nearby bar came out with fire extinguishers and tried to put the flames out which didn't help and by now the flames were coming out the top of the bonnet. The fire brigade arrived and after getting the main bonnet off (hats off to the blokes, they did a great job) it still took them about 30 minutes to get the fire out as it just wouldn't stop burning. They ended up having to go in through the passenger footwell and finally got it out. It's strange though because for quite a while there was still power because the boot and doors were working.
The whole battery area had melted and I have no idea how much damage it's done to everything else, plus the 1/4 of a fire engine's tank of water into the engine bay!
I called my roadside recovery and they hauled it up onto a flatbed to take away and will look after it until I decide what to do next. Really not happy. I just can't believe it. I've just spent £850 on new tax, service and MOT. Absolutely gutted.
A couple of things I noticed during my evening's adventure too...
1) The locked down main bonnet is REALLY fricking annoying!
2) Not being able to get in because there's no power is REALLY fricking annoying! It's lucky the drivers window was slightly down otherwise I would have been screwed trying to get it onto the flatbed.
3) Not having door handles, although looking cool, is a REALLY bad design idea!
4) Putting the battery where it is was a REALLY bad design idea!
5) Putting the fuel cut-off switch in the boot which can't be opened when there's no power is a REALLY stupid design idea!
Do you guys think with this level of damage it will be a writeoff? What the hell could have caused something like this? Yeah, it was raining but surely... I just dunno. It was just serviced, they would have noticed if the anderson connector was broken or anything. Anyone got any advice... anyone... anything? Help!!
J
Edit to add ...
Been a while since I posted as not much has been going on with the Tuscan... until tonight!
Parked up and turned the engine off. Suddenly there was a load of white smoke which looked like steam coming from the engine bay. As I got out there was an explosion from the passenger side and I could see sparks and flames coming from where the anderson connector is.
The security from a nearby bar came out with fire extinguishers and tried to put the flames out which didn't help and by now the flames were coming out the top of the bonnet. The fire brigade arrived and after getting the main bonnet off (hats off to the blokes, they did a great job) it still took them about 30 minutes to get the fire out as it just wouldn't stop burning. They ended up having to go in through the passenger footwell and finally got it out. It's strange though because for quite a while there was still power because the boot and doors were working.
The whole battery area had melted and I have no idea how much damage it's done to everything else, plus the 1/4 of a fire engine's tank of water into the engine bay!
I called my roadside recovery and they hauled it up onto a flatbed to take away and will look after it until I decide what to do next. Really not happy. I just can't believe it. I've just spent £850 on new tax, service and MOT. Absolutely gutted.
A couple of things I noticed during my evening's adventure too...
1) The locked down main bonnet is REALLY fricking annoying!
2) Not being able to get in because there's no power is REALLY fricking annoying! It's lucky the drivers window was slightly down otherwise I would have been screwed trying to get it onto the flatbed.
3) Not having door handles, although looking cool, is a REALLY bad design idea!
4) Putting the battery where it is was a REALLY bad design idea!
5) Putting the fuel cut-off switch in the boot which can't be opened when there's no power is a REALLY stupid design idea!
Do you guys think with this level of damage it will be a writeoff? What the hell could have caused something like this? Yeah, it was raining but surely... I just dunno. It was just serviced, they would have noticed if the anderson connector was broken or anything. Anyone got any advice... anyone... anything? Help!!
J
Edit to add ...
Edited by BigJL on Sunday 14th December 02:10
Afternoon all,
Cheers for your kind words!
The car is being taken to the TVR Centre on Monday morning to get checked out.
If I remember correctly, the fire started before the power stopped working. Not sure wheter that makes a difference, but if the battery short circuited wouldn't the power have gone off straight away? There were definitely sparks coming from the anderson connector after the explosion... initially I thought there was a firework under the car! It's funny what goes through your head in these moments!
You can't see much from the pic but that was after about half an hour of them trying to get the fire out. I should have taken some more pics. The fire guys were actually pretty good getting the bonnet off but there is probably damage to the front hinge of the service section as they pulled it quite far forwards to easily get to the other bolts. Cosmetically as far as I could see there was no damage to the paintwork or anything else - but it was dark and raining, so not too sure.
I'm thinking there's going to be a fair bit of damage to wiring, a hell of a lot of water damage and serious damage to the interior. I just had visions of the whole thing bursting into flames as I waited for the fire brigade. I still can't really believe it...!
I think it's going to be hard to see what caused it now considering there's nothing left of the battery area. I'm guessing the battery would have been disconnected when they changed the clutch slave cylinder during the service.
TBH, I'm not actually sure if I want it fixed now. I've lost a lot of confidence in the car which is a real shame as I do still love it.
J
Cheers for your kind words!
The car is being taken to the TVR Centre on Monday morning to get checked out.
If I remember correctly, the fire started before the power stopped working. Not sure wheter that makes a difference, but if the battery short circuited wouldn't the power have gone off straight away? There were definitely sparks coming from the anderson connector after the explosion... initially I thought there was a firework under the car! It's funny what goes through your head in these moments!
You can't see much from the pic but that was after about half an hour of them trying to get the fire out. I should have taken some more pics. The fire guys were actually pretty good getting the bonnet off but there is probably damage to the front hinge of the service section as they pulled it quite far forwards to easily get to the other bolts. Cosmetically as far as I could see there was no damage to the paintwork or anything else - but it was dark and raining, so not too sure.
I'm thinking there's going to be a fair bit of damage to wiring, a hell of a lot of water damage and serious damage to the interior. I just had visions of the whole thing bursting into flames as I waited for the fire brigade. I still can't really believe it...!
I think it's going to be hard to see what caused it now considering there's nothing left of the battery area. I'm guessing the battery would have been disconnected when they changed the clutch slave cylinder during the service.
TBH, I'm not actually sure if I want it fixed now. I've lost a lot of confidence in the car which is a real shame as I do still love it.
J
unrepentant said:
Having had my own Tuscan go up in flames 9 months ago (see pic) you have my commiserations. Mine was not an Anderson connector issue I hasten to add.
1. The bolted down bonnet (going on what I was told) is necessary for rigidity.
2. It is pretty easy to get in without power but it takes a couple of mins so I guess not useful in the event of a fire.
3. I love the no handle look personally but take your point.
4. Agreed.
5. See 2. Where do other manufacturers put the fuel cut off switch? I have no idea where it is on any of my cars. Would it make a difference anyway?
For rigidity they could have just added some strut braces across the engine bay, it would have made life much easier, surely?1. The bolted down bonnet (going on what I was told) is necessary for rigidity.
2. It is pretty easy to get in without power but it takes a couple of mins so I guess not useful in the event of a fire.
3. I love the no handle look personally but take your point.
4. Agreed.
5. See 2. Where do other manufacturers put the fuel cut off switch? I have no idea where it is on any of my cars. Would it make a difference anyway?
I'm aware of the other entry method but as you mention while the car is burning, in the dark surrounded by smoke, it wouldn't be the easiest job! Plus when the car is on fire you don't want to be that close to it, let alone clambering around inside! lol
Hmm, not sure where the fuel cut off normally goes. Probably in the boot. But then most cars let you open the boot without power... probably wouldn't have made much difference in this case either way!
So depressing so many TVRs are going out this way
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