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my car caught on fire HELP HELP

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Old 04-05-2005, 01:16 PM
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my car caught on fire tonight @ the race track in the staging lanes ..... the starter wire was rubbing against the lower serpentine belt thingy i think power steering i dunno but it rubbed thru and started to spark then the melting of the rubber lines insued and caught ablaze i shut the car off and open the hood as flames engulfed the lower part freaking me out !!!!

i look today and notice the wire harness going into my alternator is also fried n melted.... BUT how can one side of the engine the starter wire melting effect the alternator which is a wire totally not connected to the starter wire ???

all the ground wires seem to be ok but the wire harness going down the driver side valve cover and going behind the alt was also melted so i have to reslice those wires

the starter seems to be ok as does the alternator the inside where the plug goes is ok but the outside of the plug is melted im repalceing both to be safe but im still unsure what caused the alt to melt ??
Old 04-05-2005, 01:19 PM
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how much did it burn??
Old 04-05-2005, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by boseman350
i look today and notice the wire harness going into my alternator is also fried n melted.... BUT how can one side of the engine the starter wire melting effect the alternator which is a wire totally not connected to the starter wire ???

the starter seems to be ok as does the alternator the inside where the plug goes is ok but the outside of the plug is melted im repalceing both to be safe but im still unsure what caused the alt to melt ??
When you say "starter wire" bear in mind there are two of them...one small purple one that has no voltage except when the key is turned, and one big one that has a direct path to the battery positive pole.

Sounds like you grounded the big one and created a circuit straight from batt to ground. Given the alternator is also on that circuit via the not quite so big red wire, (that's how the alt recharges the battery) I can see where it would get hot also.

You learned a great lesson and the car will hopefully live to fight another day, good luck w/ the repairs and keep your wires clear of moving parts.
Old 04-05-2005, 01:28 PM
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yeah the big wire definately got cooked but i didnt see any wires going from the top of the alt to anywhere else maybee it burned off or something.... the fire wasnt too bad at least i was at the race track and not parked @ walmart n come back to a blazing car........ ill keep ya posted thanks !!!
Old 04-05-2005, 07:21 PM
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Whew! ...as much as it sucks, it sure could have been worse. Hearing stories like this makes me glad I bought a nice chrome fire extinguisher for my SS...good luck with the fix.
Old 04-05-2005, 08:06 PM
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hey lawman when we racing ??? PRP open april 16th !!!! u ready ??
if you want post up on
www.streetnstrip.org that way you know when were going to be racing n where
Old 04-05-2005, 08:12 PM
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My car isn't scheduled to go to Rapid Motorsports for new cam/tuning until mid-May, so she'll be off the road for a while longer...I keep thinking I may take her out to PRP for a run or two...that way I can evenly distribute little pieces of my 10-bolt !
Old 04-05-2005, 08:54 PM
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i also had a starter fire. it happened that the 12V wire wasnt correctly on the post and turned the other way towards the other wires. it arced and caught flame. wasnt too bad. MightyMouse caught it in time to blow it out like the big bad wolf.
Old 04-05-2005, 09:11 PM
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Should be fine now it was a short and you fixed it. The 12V will take the least resistant path to ground. Maby the little wire in the Alt went to gnd in the pcm and that is why it burned too. the above post is why it burned. wouldnt worry for the starter or alt.
Old 04-05-2005, 11:48 PM
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Check your maxi fuses in the under hood power distribution box too. Make sure none of them got toasted.
Old 04-06-2005, 07:38 AM
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Originally Posted by wrencher
Check your maxi fuses in the under hood power distribution box too. Make sure none of them got toasted.
good idea !!! im guessing check all the fuses in that lil box above the alt ??
Old 04-06-2005, 01:38 PM
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boseman350: What track were you at that is open already???

My car will be finished up in a few weeks. I'll run ya
Old 04-06-2005, 02:29 PM
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beaver springs in eastern, pa theres a event this weekend 30 bucks 4 hours and only 20 cars or less !!!!! so that means a ton of runs !!!!!!!
ill be @ prp when they open and i already know what u run ill wait untill my spray is ready to race ya unless u wanna bracket race gotta wait on brian and sammy to finish the fuel pump n rear end swap hopefully april 16th ill be ready
Old 04-06-2005, 04:56 PM
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i might have to come up there, and spank your ***
Old 04-06-2005, 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by jimmy 2 Times
i might have to come up there, and spank your ***
bring it
also bring my dam speaker box n sub

but seriously this weekend test n tune 20 cars only for 4 hours youll get a ton of runs in !!!! ill let ya borrow my mickeys fora pass or two if ya want
Old 04-07-2005, 02:12 AM
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You won't be happy until you blow that thing up, will ya'?
Old 04-07-2005, 03:58 AM
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You should be able to get a new harness for that section from the dealer. That's the route I would take.
Old 04-07-2005, 06:57 AM
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Originally Posted by boseman350
ill be @ prp when they open and i already know what u run ill wait untill my spray is ready to race ya unless u wanna bracket race
That was the old setup... It is new and improved for this year...

I hope to be ready by the end of April beginning of May...
Old 04-07-2005, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by boseman350
bring it
also bring my dam speaker box n sub

but seriously this weekend test n tune 20 cars only for 4 hours youll get a ton of runs in !!!! ill let ya borrow my mickeys fora pass or two if ya want
that would be a long, loud ride.....i am still running open headers....im waiting for the rest of the piping
Old 04-07-2005, 03:43 PM
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lifts hands and wiggles 2 fingers !!!! < jimmy 2x

2001 pewter < im scared you car is very nice !!! btw have any old parts laying around

Nittany marine < Nope ill run till i have to greyhound my *** back to pgh


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