DeLorean Catches On Fire

[SS Spoiler]

Had a battery cable short to the exhaust, filled
the car with smoke, melted the side post out of the
battery and put itself out. Dumb luck.....?

[Parzival]

I've had a similar concern with the starter heatshield and how close the underside of it is to the positive battery cables on the starter. The originals were asbestos, but the replacements are stainless steel, and this direct path from positive battery connection to the engine block ground is a little too close for comfort for me. I don't know if it is a matter of the slightly different shape of the heatshield replacements, the positioning of the positive cables all on that one bolt, or a deteriorating rubber cap over those exposed cable ends, but it all looks like there's no more than one millimeter of wiggle room before things touch and the car goes up in smoke. My new heatshield stays in the box, thanks.

Asbestos is a better material for the heat shield, its an amazing material for lots of things, sadly our lungs don't like it very much. Other wise I'd want it everywhere!

[David T]

There is no fusible link so if the brown wires going to the alternator or the wires to the starter get melted from the hot parts nearby you can get an electrical fire. One of the ways to figure out what caused the fire is to find out what, if any, service was last done. Or if anyone saw the area where the fire originated.

[81dmc]

Had a battery cable short to the exhaust, filled
the car with smoke, melted the side post out of the
battery and put itself out. Dumb luck.....?

Definitely dumb luck.

Found the picture of the remains of my cable.Screenshot_20190425-183356.jpg

Found the easiest remedy. https://www.amazon.com/Bussmann-CB18.../dp/B00139FQSS

[DMC-81]

There is no fusible link so if the brown wires going to the alternator or the wires to the starter get melted from the hot parts nearby you can get an electrical fire. One of the ways to figure out what caused the fire is to find out what, if any, service was last done. Or if anyone saw the area where the fire originated.

Yes, definitely. I took one look our set up and installed thermal shielding on the starter and alternator wires.

[81dmc]

There's a lot more clearance with factory exhaust manifolds. Now when you get headers....

[DMC-81]

There's a lot more clearance with factory exhaust manifolds. Now when you get headers....

Definitely. Even with the factory setup, there is a lot of heat happening in that area.

Glad you caught yours in time. Yikes!!