My GT caught fire!

[Craig]

While downshifting into 2nd I apparently hit the key with my knee and turned to ignition off. I didn't realize it immediatly and gave the car some gas. When nothing happened I looked down to find the gages all off, and realized the problem, and did the natural thing, turned on the key. Wrong Answer!!!!! The car backfired quietly, more of a whoosh, actually. As I pulled over people started waving their arms and I didn't know why. :willy I didn't realize that I was on fire. :mad

Apparently, a flame came out the exhaust and caught the rear bumper cover on fire. It burnt the cover and exhaust pipe facia. The fire was put out by an observer with a bottle of water. I took it into my dealer and they want me to come back and have the Ford reginal rep look at it be, before agreeing to repair it under warrenty. It does seem like an odd problem and not your normal warrenty coverage, but what is the opinion of the group? Should a car catch fire when the key is accidently turn off and then back on? Should the fuel injection be shut of to prevent excesive fuel from loading up the exhaust system? :shrug

Thoughts please,

Craig "Scorch"

 

[gtjoey]

IF ANYONE IS CARAVANING WITH CRAIG TO THE RALLY, PLEASE MAKE SURE HES BEHIND YOU :biggrin DA, DA,DA, DA, DA, DA,DA, BAT MAN!!! ONLY KIDDING!! JUST MAKE SURE YOU COOK THE HOT DOG AT LEAST 3 MINUTES, MAD COW,BIRD FLU, AND ALL :thumbsup GTJOEY 1314 ONLY KIDDING, BUT ON A SERIOUS NOTE PLEASE BRING EXSTINGUISHERS JUST FOR THESE REASONS!!!

 

[Pipelion]

Craig you HOT DOG,,, :cheers :cheers

Glad it was a rare burn :biggrin :lol :rofl !!!!! And not well done.

I had a Lotus Elan burn up. It's not funny, but your Hot Doggie rear snoop doggie dog photo , leaves me no alternative but to warm up to you :banana :willy :banana :rofl :banana

The GT does shoot flames out the pipes (unburned fuel), I've seen it on 'Joe's GT' video. You have found another way not to.

I'm happy to hear your OK, and the GT. :cheers

Allan

PS your car is the Ketchup(red), you need a mustard(yellow) GT too. :bs

 

[1418]

Mustard on mine -- please.

It should be covered under warranty-

Fortunately, it did not do more damage.

Manny

 

[SuperB]

There should be no way to catch a car on fire accidentaly.
If you had been injured, you could certainly sue, and win, for poor design that allows such a risk to exist.

Seems Ford should be considering a recall to do something to prevent this in the future, not attempting to get out of your repair.

 

[barondw]

I like the hot dog. Good show.

Also great news that the damage wasn't more serious or you were at greater risk.

Dave

 

[FlorIdaho Chris]

Craig-

That dog looked so good I had to go down to the local 7/11 and order one up!

Mustard with mine...

Glad there was only minor damage.

-Chris

 

[RacerXGT]

fire

a guy was racing a white GT at Button Willow on April 1-2 with Viper Days his rear bumper caught fire for no reason
call Viper days @ Phone: 847-594-VIPR(8477) and get his phone # and talk to him find ot what is up
I will be at the track in the next few weeks I need to figure out how Im going to fire proof it and ideas????

 

[Pipelion]

When I first started looking at Ford GTs on ebay, a used white GT showed up. Pictures clearly showed the rear bumper was covered with brown around the tail pipes. The GT puts out flames, when yo :tongue :cool u're getting it on! :mad

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Burnt dogs

You might want wrap the dog in foil first. Keeps the leaking oil fron the supercharger and/or transaxle off the executive lunch. Also don't to forget to warm the buns.

Seriously, if this is not covered by the factory, you have a valid insurance claim. The validity of the claim will be questioned by most insurance adjusters if you use the word race. No coverage.

However if you use use the terms "driver development" - "driver training" - with a little prodding coverage can be applied.

The technicality of not being an endorsed licensed race event usually is the defining factor. This has been succesful many times.

I know of a number of street licensed, and insured, "race" vehicles that have had the insurance company free tow truck called to the track to get the vehicles home after they broke.

Ger er out of the garage and on the road(and track)

regards to all,

PL50:Jeff

 

[Craig]

RacerxGT - The Button Willow reporter must have been color blind, as that was me.

PL510*Jeff - Good Idea about the foil. It would also eliminate exhaust taste. :biggrin The buns are on top of the super charger, I just didn't get a picture of them. :banana

Craig

 

[abolfaz]

rear bumper was covered with brown around the tail pipes. The GT puts out flames, when yo :tongue :cool u're getting it on! :mad

I can confirm this, the area around the tips on my white car is now BROWN, no big deal, it adds charachter. On a serious note though, when my car had the paper temp tag it almost caught on fire, I notice that it had shrivled up and warped real bad as well as turning yellow/brown so I took it off and put it on top of the dash until my plate arived.

 

[Pipelion]

Temp Tag,

Abolfaz, you just found the true meaning of TEMP tag. :lol

Too HIGH a TEMP and :mad :madP S!!!!!! :cheers No more temp tag.

Allan

 

[Pipelion]

Craig,

Back to planet earth.

Do you think the fire would not have happened if you pulled off the road and waited for the fuel/air mixture to evaporate?

Allan


Explanation; When you turned off the key(spark), unburned fuel was pumped out the engine and into the muffler. So when you turned the key back on, the spark/fire escaping the cylinders caused the unburded fuel to ignite (much more than when getting on it). Hot dog!

 

[SLF360]

fire it up !

Craig,
usually only the Euro cars are prone to catch fire, because of a muffler (euro required to be quiet) issue that gets too hot when driven hard long on the highway...
Maybe a reason for the bumper delete...

 

[abolfaz]

Temp Tag,

Abolfaz, you just found the true meaning of TEMP tag. :lol

Too HIGH a TEMP and :mad :madP S!!!!!! :cheers No more temp tag.

Allan

It only goes up in flames the day it expires... :lol :rofl

 

[Pipelion]

It only goes up in flames the day it expires... :lol :rofl

:biggrin :lol :biggrin :willy :thumbsup

Allan

 

[MAD IN NC]

I love to barbecue.....

Never thought about using my GT though....

Craig I see you'r a gas man which in this case is better than charcol

 

[Craig]

It may not have happened if I had pulled over and let the gas evaporate a while, but who knows how long? I did dicover the root cause, however. The remote fob was attached to the key with a very small ring (1/4 inch inside dia.) This ring can hold the fob in such a position that it acts as a lever to turn off the ignition when your knee hits it. I have changed the small ring out to a large one and now have an easy disconnect beteen the fob and the key so that I can remove the fob completely when driving with "Spirit". :cheers

I'll let you know the result of the interview with Ford.

Craig

 

[Pipelion]

Thanks Craig,

Allan