My neighbor’s car is a pile of bare metal and melted rubble right now. He doesn’t have insurance. I was wondering if his car is known for this type of problem and if there was anything he could do about it…
It is a 1991 Ford Taurus… anyone know if they’re prone to electrical fires?
http://fathom.org/opalcat/photos/011401 <—pictures
Well, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) conducted two investigations of possible engine cooling fan fires in the '91 Taurus. Both were closed without generating a recall. I’d say your friend is out of luck, although it couldn’t hurt to call the manufacturer or a local dealer to verify that there isn’t another course of action.
The NHTSA operates a very useful website detailing Recalls, Technical Safety Bulletins, and Defect Investigations for all vehicles produced since 1949. The later the model, the more info available. Additionally, they have forms for submitting complaints, documentaiton of safety studies, and questionnaires. Visit it at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/
On your friend’s next car, I suggest obtaining an extended warranty of some kind, whether through the manufacturer or a third party. The investment is well worth the expense, both in cost and piece of mind over the lifetime of the vehicle.
Although it’s hard to tell, it doesn’t look like an engine fire – the passenger compartment is trashed. Does your friend smoke? That would be my first guess.
I have no idea, I never met him until this morning when I was taking pictures of his car. He lives in another building in my development.
Keep in mind, I can’t make a determination of anything based on photos, I’d need to look at the vehicle myself, so don’t take anything I say as gospel. Its very difficult to tell the cause of the fire (based on the photos). The origin, however, is definately the passenger compartment. From the one photo of the interior of the car, as well as the front of the car, it looks to me that the fire started between the two front seats in the area of the console. I can’t stress enough that this is only from looking at a few pictures and not from a true fire investigation (look around the car, talk to the firefighters to know what they saw/did on arrival, talk to the owner of the car, etc).
Thank god for that degree in fire investigation…
And, just to make sure we all understand, this is only from looking at a few photos…it is not a true, unfallable determination of the fire’s cause.
From an interesting article called “Photographing the Fire Scene” at http://www.tcforensic.com.au/docs/article1.html :
On another note, Ford had some problems in the early 1990’s with the factory-equipped cruise control. A switch could shortcircuit, overheat, and cause a vehcile to suddenly erupt in flames. A telltale sign was a hole melted through the hood of the car. As far as I can tell, this problem only affected the Town Car, Crown Victoria, and grand Marquis. It was addressed by a May, 1999 recall. Here’s a realted site: http://www.flamingtowncars.com Yup, that’s right … Flaming Town Cars.
Definitely not an engine fire. Did it have a console between the seats with lights/lighters/other electrical stuff in it? Power seats? Probably an electrical short somewhere…
sigh this has so not helped my irrational fear that my car will spontaneously combust…