Nearly had a fire

[T1 PCS]

After 18 years of ownership, nearly lost my car today. Driving along got a few funny smells, then lost all electrics and power. Absolute stinking smell, and coasted to the side of the road. Loads of smoke in footwell, and getting worse.

Go out and shut the door (doh) and ran to the other. Can't open door, no electrics. No tools to get into the boot where my work toolbag is. Drivers window only open a smidge as raining.

Rang 999 while trying to stay calm.

Thumped back window hard to release the struts to get inside hood. Open door from inside, pulled away carpet from battery, and lots of smoke, not sure what exactly. Need toolkit to disconnect battery in some manner, have wire cutters, but are in boot. No power can't open boot. Forgot about the release method for boot, so yanked and yanked on boot till it opened. (The lock came away from fibreglass in the end). Got wire cutters and cut the live main wires off battery.

Fully expecting to loose the car to a fire, but fortunately this stopped it getting worse.

Fire brigade turned up shortly after, and declared it safe (they were very good about it, very kind).

Found the faulty wire was melting onto a terminal - two brown wires going from the battery through some conduit to somewhere - not sure where, and terminating in a crimp which looks like it burnt away. Don't think it is aftermarket as had the car from new, and it isn't the amp wire.

So now waiting for recovery truck to get me home, and then lick my wounds as to how to sort it.

And idea what this wire is / was? I'm wondering if it is the feed to the fuse board?

Next question, on my list of to do jobs was to move the battery and switch to gel and move fuses to create more legroom. Now seems like the obvious time to do it. Any idea who can do this in the south (or anywhere really).

Cheers

Paul

[Pink_Floyd]

T1 PCS said:

Found the faulty wire was melting onto a terminal - two brown wires going from the battery through some conduit to somewhere - not sure where, and terminating in a crimp which looks like it burnt away. Don't think it is aftermarket as had the car from new, and it isn't the amp wire

They go to an 80 Amp fuse and then to the Fuse box. Main power for everything.

[Yex 450]

T1 PCS said:

Next question, on my list of to do jobs was to move the battery and switch to gel and move fuses to create more legroom. Now seems like the obvious time to do it. Any idea who can do this in the south (or anywhere really).

Dan Taylor in Aylesford looks after my car and is excellent

http://taylortvr.co.uk/

Worth calling if you can get the car to him

[T1 PCS]

Thanks. Sent an email to him.

[macdeb]

After sorting the (standard) mess in my previous car, I'm surprised a lot more don't catch fire.

[T1 PCS]

Looking at it now, I reckon the wire broke free from the fuse board first then fell onto an earth causing the end of the wire to melt. I cut the brown wires at the battery so stopped the short. Now need to fix this and the boot.

[Classic Chim]

Some quick thinking saved your car sir. Congratulate yourself there.
Maybe these cars are coming to an age where checking of the wiring system should be something Tvr specialists do as a matter of course as burnt out cars don't give them much business.

A reasonably quick fix if all else is well with your electrics. I carry very few tools in my boot but a pair of snips might be a good idea. Very unfortunate but also very lucky if you think about it.

Another reason to remove the rats nest and go after market Ecu, insulating to keep these opposite forces apart might be a good start.

I don't really want to think of what might have happened if you'd
1 not had tools
2 found super human strength to rip the boot off, I'm sure that's hurting but better than a blob of melted plastic on the road.
I applaud your straight thinking in a very stressful situation.

[Matthew Poxon]

That does not sound good. Well done for your quick thinking, you may have saved your car from the worst.

I have had this happen to me before but no where near as bad, fortunately it was only one of the smaller wires that melted and shorted out in the foot well. Not much smoke but certainly a strong smell of burning.

I have since moved by battery behind the seat and have a remote cut off switch in the form of a battery brain which also prevents the batteries from fully discharging.

More about mine here if you are interested:
https://matthewpoxon.wordpress.com/2017/03/03/batt...

[T1 PCS]

Thanks guys. Hair raising moment but car in one piece and back in my garage just working out what to do next, and how to mend the boot latch! Bit of fibreglassing may be able to bond the shape back together. Definitely moving battery and fuseboard, and will fit a kill switch somewhere accessible without having to destroy the car in an emergency.

My wrists hurt though now!

[pb450]

Oucheroo! Better that than the alternative, as previously said.

T1 PCS said:

My wrists hurt though now!

There's an answer there somewhere.

[wseed]

Wow, good effort pulling that boot lid open. You've just reaffirmed that putting up with an extinguisher rolling about in the cabin isn't a stupid idea.

[Classic Chim]

Mines tucked under front of passenger seat and mounted to the floor. I forget it's there.
Im very glad it is though. Reminds me to check the date

[GR_TVR]

Things like this do get me rubbing my chin over a fire extinguisher.

That said, I think it needs to be properly mounted, otherwise it has the potential to become a missile should the worst happen...

[pb450]

GR_TVR said:

Things like this do get me rubbing my chin over a fire extinguisher.

That said, I think it needs to be properly mounted, otherwise it has the potential to become a missile should the worst happen...

See pics - including my own - in this thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[GR_TVR]

pb450 said:

See pics - including my own - in this thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks - looks neat.

[Classic Chim]

GR_TVR said:

Things like this do get me rubbing my chin over a fire extinguisher.

That said, I think it needs to be properly mounted, otherwise it has the potential to become a missile should the worst happen...

Properly mounted to the floor which is a low point of gravity it's going knowwhere fast. If your upside down or rolling, you've got plenty to worry about and that ain't really one of them.
The clamps are designed for cars and takes a serious impact force to dislodge them.
As I say mine sits just in front of the pass seat and bolted with big washers through the floor and is excellent as a safety device that might help for 30 seconds if you ever really need it.
I've done a couple of trackdays and it's not moved even running aggressive curbs,,, I have the little gauge sitting at the top so if it spins ill notice. It's never moved though vibration or big pot holes and three odd years on the road.

[Belle427]

I think the Battery isolator switch is a must in these cars, should not be too hard to fit. Makes you think a bit more about your own car when something like this happens.

[wseed]

Sounds like I should rethink the location and attachment of mine. It's in a velcro pouch at the mo that stays put but the extinguisher has a tenancy to slip out of it. I'll have to rout out the bracket and trial it in front of the passenger seat.