P38... The end...
Discussion
Mrs Interloper bought a 4.6 HSE two years ago to run as an occasional car. Its had its ups and down, coolants leaks etc but its been a fun car to use occasionally.
This morning I took it for its MOT, which it failed on a couple of minor issues, perished ball joint gaitors and a slight exhaust leak, nothing a bit of elbow grease wont fix.
On the drive home from the test station, I had a puff of smoke from the dash area, this rather concerned me but I was close to home and it cleared. Anyway, I parked the car up popped the bonnet, all okay, stuck my head back in the cab, slight electrical smell, possibly something has shorted out, not sure. Nothing obvious so I pop in side for a cup of tea...
Then Mrs Interloper spots smoke...
Quickly sprint out side to discover fire and its rather more than my extinguisher will cope with.
By the time the fire brigade arrive we have...
The end result.
Looks like the instrument cluster may have been the source.
In all my years of shedding I have never had a surprise car fire, this is a bit of a shock to the system.
Anyway there is no moral to this tale, so here's to Rupert the Range Rover, may he rest in pieces and many thanks to the Basingstoke Firebrigade, they did a great job.
This morning I took it for its MOT, which it failed on a couple of minor issues, perished ball joint gaitors and a slight exhaust leak, nothing a bit of elbow grease wont fix.
On the drive home from the test station, I had a puff of smoke from the dash area, this rather concerned me but I was close to home and it cleared. Anyway, I parked the car up popped the bonnet, all okay, stuck my head back in the cab, slight electrical smell, possibly something has shorted out, not sure. Nothing obvious so I pop in side for a cup of tea...
Then Mrs Interloper spots smoke...
Quickly sprint out side to discover fire and its rather more than my extinguisher will cope with.
By the time the fire brigade arrive we have...
The end result.
Looks like the instrument cluster may have been the source.
In all my years of shedding I have never had a surprise car fire, this is a bit of a shock to the system.
Anyway there is no moral to this tale, so here's to Rupert the Range Rover, may he rest in pieces and many thanks to the Basingstoke Firebrigade, they did a great job.
Unfortunately we wont be finding out, it has been taken away for scrap and the fire brigade had no need to investigate as there was no sign or suspicion of foul play.
I guess either a component in the cluster burnt out and actually ignited some wiring. Or some wiring chaffed and sparked and lit in the dash which then spread.
Not knowing is frustrating but what can you do? The only positive I can take out of this is, that I am going to be bloody careful with the dash wiring on both my project cars, I don't want to be responsible for a repeat performance.
I guess either a component in the cluster burnt out and actually ignited some wiring. Or some wiring chaffed and sparked and lit in the dash which then spread.
Not knowing is frustrating but what can you do? The only positive I can take out of this is, that I am going to be bloody careful with the dash wiring on both my project cars, I don't want to be responsible for a repeat performance.
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