CHIM FIRE A3 SLIP ROAD TONIGHT!
Discussion
On my way home this evening leaving the M25 onto A3 slip road around 5.45 pm. Saw black smoke, fire crews and rather nasty smell of burning plastic then to my horror what (used) to look like a dark blue 'P' reg Chim burning away. Looked to be coming from the engine bay.
No immediate sign of the driver but I hope you are ok mate. I tried to stop and offer assistance but was "move along, sir" by local plod.
BR
No immediate sign of the driver but I hope you are ok mate. I tried to stop and offer assistance but was "move along, sir" by local plod.
BR
Hoover. said:
my guess is fuel line disitngration near the the dizzy... happened to mine mechanic noticed and shat himself as car was running 
Are you sure? On mine the only flexable fuel hoses on the car are at the back with the fuel pump or at the very back of the engine bay. The fuel inlet and return hoses both go into the fuel rail which is metal. There should not be any flexable hoses to perish that far forward.
george 500 said:
How often does this happen. There seem to be posts of this nature with alarming regularity. Does one need to pack a serious fire extinguisher (ie 2kg plus) or are these isolated incidents often caused by dodgy wiring related to owner modifications?
In the grand scheme of things, it is rare. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen because it does but it is not restricted to TVRs. I'm seen BMWs, Mercs, Peugeots, Ford, Volvos, Vauxhalls, Loti, Porsches all burnt out on the hard shoulder. I doubt if the fires were caused by owners modding wires. Yes it is worth carrying a fire extinguisher. Can definitely take the crisis out of a drama...
jonnyb said:
Hoover. said:
my guess is fuel line disitngration near the the dizzy... happened to mine mechanic noticed and shat himself as car was running
Are you sure? On mine the only flexable fuel hoses on the car are at the back with the fuel pump or at the very back of the engine bay. The fuel inlet and return hoses both go into the fuel rail which is metal. There should not be any flexable hoses to perish that far forward.
the most common cause of chim/griff fires is the rubber fuel pipes perishing at the back of the engine bay. mine started spraying petrol everywhere a few years ago but i spotted it in time...
Its very easy to check , just have alook at the pipe an if its at all perished, dont drive the car and change your fuel lines... they are a pita to change mind
loadblower said:
Scary stuff!
I carry a fire extinguisher tucked behind my seat. However, should the worst happen, I wonder if its practical to actually tackle it???
I carry a fire extinguisher tucked behind my seat. However, should the worst happen, I wonder if its practical to actually tackle it???
Good point - I've always carried a fire extinguisher to help if a life threatening situation developed. Not to try to put out an under the bonnet fire - lifting the bonnet if you suspect or can see a fire is an especially dangerous act. I figure that the best thing to do in this circumstance (provided you're properly insured) is to stand back and hope that the damage is substantial and unrepairable. Being a hero and ending up with a fire-damaged but repairable car is not an attractive thought.
A friend of mine is with the fire service, and when I fitted my fire extinguisher he came round to lend a hand. I wanted to fit it in the cabin, and he asked why, the obvious answer came back "to fight the fire". He said I must be nuts! the idea is to use it to rescue someone from a car fire, not for you to tackle an engine bay fire. This was after he had come back from fighting a car fire, where the unlucky chap had tried just that and was now seriously ill in hospital.
My fire extinguisher is now mounted in the boot. And if my car goes up in flames, as long as I'm well away from it, it can burn. Thats what insurance is for.
My fire extinguisher is now mounted in the boot. And if my car goes up in flames, as long as I'm well away from it, it can burn. Thats what insurance is for.
jonnyb said:
A friend of mine is with the fire service, and when I fitted my fire extinguisher he came round to lend a hand. I wanted to fit it in the cabin, and he asked why, the obvious answer came back "to fight the fire". He said I must be nuts! the idea is to use it to rescue someone from a car fire, not for you to tackle an engine bay fire. This was after he had come back from fighting a car fire, where the unlucky chap had tried just that and was now seriously ill in hospital.
My fire extinguisher is now mounted in the boot. And if my car goes up in flames, as long as I'm well away from it, it can burn. Thats what insurance is for.
My fire extinguisher is now mounted in the boot. And if my car goes up in flames, as long as I'm well away from it, it can burn. Thats what insurance is for.
ever thought about one of those fire extinguishing systems used under the bonnets in motorsport??
They sell them at Grand Prix Racewear
Good, point If you ever do suspect an under bonnet fire, dont just lift the bonnet straight up as the air rushing to the fire will flare up.
When my rangy caught fire, I had a big workshop fire extinguisher in the boot, sprayed a load under the engine bay and then lifted the bonnet just enought to get the nossle in and gave it loads before slowley lifting the bonnet to put out anything left.
Used a full workshop fire ex, about 4 times larger than the normal ones you see in a car
and that was empty when i had finished.
I do have a cabin mounted fire ex in the chim, but thats largley to help me get out in case of fire, as you'd have to be very quick to put a fire out with it.
You wouldnt believe how quick even a metal car can go up never mind grp !!!
When my rangy caught fire, I had a big workshop fire extinguisher in the boot, sprayed a load under the engine bay and then lifted the bonnet just enought to get the nossle in and gave it loads before slowley lifting the bonnet to put out anything left.
Used a full workshop fire ex, about 4 times larger than the normal ones you see in a car
and that was empty when i had finished.
I do have a cabin mounted fire ex in the chim, but thats largley to help me get out in case of fire, as you'd have to be very quick to put a fire out with it.
You wouldnt believe how quick even a metal car can go up never mind grp !!!
Thanks for the concern. I don't come on Pistonheads much but thought the car may have been spotted. It was my dad's p reg Chimaera 4 litre that you saw on fire. We have had the car nearly 8 years and have done circa 25,000 miles in it with no problems at all.
Dad got out ok (+ golf clubs) and the car has gone to Romans in Farnham for the autopsy. The front end was in pretty bad shape apparently and there will be some water damage to the cockpit. Any ideas as to what the car may be worth. It is a 4ltr P Reg with about 55k on the clock.
Dad got out ok (+ golf clubs) and the car has gone to Romans in Farnham for the autopsy. The front end was in pretty bad shape apparently and there will be some water damage to the cockpit. Any ideas as to what the car may be worth. It is a 4ltr P Reg with about 55k on the clock.
Edited by rmog on Sunday 1st April 18:25
Of course it was a Chim - glad he was okay! rmog said:
Thanks for the concern. I don't come on Pistonheads much but thought the car may have been spotted. It was my dad's p reg Chimaera 4 litre that you saw on fire. We have had the car nearly 8 years and have done circa 25,000 miles in it with no problems at all.
Dad got out ok (+ golf clubs) and the car has gone to Romans in Farnham for the autopsy. The front end was in pretty bad shape apparently and there will be some water damage to the cockpit. Any ideas as to what the car my be worth. It is a 4ltr P Reg with about 55k on the clock.
Dad got out ok (+ golf clubs) and the car has gone to Romans in Farnham for the autopsy. The front end was in pretty bad shape apparently and there will be some water damage to the cockpit. Any ideas as to what the car my be worth. It is a 4ltr P Reg with about 55k on the clock.
The golf clubs will probably be worth more than the car now.
Indeed!
FYI he could smell the clutch just before smoke started to come out and he thinks this may have been the cause of the blaze.
I'll let everyone know the outcome. I now have to persuade him to get something else. We have had a Morgan +8 and MGBs galore. As you can imageine, this experience has put him off TVRs but there isn't really anything else with the boot space, performance, rarity etc.
FYI he could smell the clutch just before smoke started to come out and he thinks this may have been the cause of the blaze.
I'll let everyone know the outcome. I now have to persuade him to get something else. We have had a Morgan +8 and MGBs galore. As you can imageine, this experience has put him off TVRs but there isn't really anything else with the boot space, performance, rarity etc.
rmog said:
Indeed!
FYI he could smell the clutch just before smoke started to come out and he thinks this may have been the cause of the blaze.
FYI he could smell the clutch just before smoke started to come out and he thinks this may have been the cause of the blaze.
I'm sure he could smell something burning before he saw flames but I'd seriously doubt that a failing clutch would start an under-bonnet fire.
As to putting him off TVRs it's not just TVRs that catch fire as has been said above everything from Audis to Volvos catch fire every now and again.
(couldn't think of anything beginning with 'Z')
Edited by V8 GRF on Sunday 1st April 23:06
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