Vauxhall Mokka engine fire

Vauxhall Mokka engine fire

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rogeratendale

Original Poster:

2 posts

86 months

Thursday 12th January 2017
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I have a Mokka 1.4 turbo petrol Exclusiv SE 4X4. It is 2.5 years old and still under warranty with 28K on the clock.
On Tuesday I drove 1.5 miles to the dentist and by the time I got there smoke was gushing from the front of the engine just behind the grille. The smoke smelled like burning paper not oil or underbody wax.
I poured water on it ( it was really hot and steamed furiously) and drove 2 miles to the local Vauxhall dealer (Penton in Salisbury). On the way every time I slowed down smoke billowed out from the bonnet. By the time I got there it was REALLY smoking and still smelled like burning paper.The cabin was full of smoke. A Penton tech sauntered out and couldn't find anything obvious.
I looked underneath and no plastic bags etc in sight. NOTE this is a PETROL Mokka not a diesel so its not DPF regeneration and it was real smoke NOT steam. The water reservoir was, however, nearly empty (it was at the correct level a week ago when I washed the car and checked everything)
Has anyone else had a Mokka catch fire or smoke really badly?
The fault appears to be at the very front of the engine, low down in the very centre behind the grill where there is some sort of manifold shield (?)

Just had an update from Penton Motor Group. They say itsa coolant hose that split, casing the engine to overheat. Liars!! The engine temp gauge never moved from 90c (I checked, obviously!) and this was a FIRE not an overheating engine.

Any ideas out there?

Edited by rogeratendale on Thursday 12th January 13:22

CraigyMc

16,313 posts

235 months

Friday 13th January 2017
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Can't comment on the rest, but just FYI, the coolant display on the dashboard is usually not reflective of the actual temperature of the coolant.
That's to say: it'll sit at 90 all the time, irrespective of whether it's 85C or 110C in reality according to the temperature sender in the coolant loop.
It only moves above or below that reassuring value of 90 if something totally bizzare is happening.
Essentially it's a digital gauge pretending to be an analogue one.

Most modern cars do this.

rogeratendale

Original Poster:

2 posts

86 months

Saturday 14th January 2017
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Thanks for the information. Thats helpful.