Catching Fire

[pezzonovante88]

What, specifically, is (are) the main reason(s) for the DeLorean catching fire and how can it be resolved?
Edit: I thought there was some flaw in the design of the electrics that were known to cause fires specifically in DeLoreans......

[ccurzio]

Combustion, usually.

Translation: that's a hilariously unspecific question that's going to need a lot more clarification. Namely, where the fire started for one. There's no "standard" set of reasons as to why any car catches fire (except for the Ford Pinto) so you're pretty much shit out of luck for an explanation without further information.

[jawn101]

I remember hearing something about a jiggawatt overload....

Seriously though, Accipiter is right. Could be anything. However I have heard many times that the wiring in the relay compartment is underrated gauge, and corrosion in the fuse box can cause sparks and overheating/melting. This can result in a cascade effect that I can definitely see being the source of a fire. #2100 is a real cream puff that never had a major mechanical issue in her life, and the fuse box was still completely melted to hell when I got it.

True for any classic car: keep a fire extinguisher handy.

[pezzonovante88]

I remember hearing something about a jiggawatt overload....

the wiring in the relay compartment is underrated gauge, and corrosion in the fuse box can cause sparks and overheating/melting. This can result in a cascade effect that I can definitely see being the source of a fire.

That's more of the answer I was after lol. So crappy wires and fusebox corrosion: Check

[rddmc]

The first DeLorean that I ever saw up close and personal was a burn victim. All the body panels were in OK shape and the engine bay was not burned at all. The interior was burned out and I doubt that the car was ever restored. The asking price was $8,000 at least 20 years ago. The car was torched by an estranged wife!

Rod
10921

[John U]

change those 30 year old fuel lines in the engine bay!!!

[Bitsyncmaster]

My guess it that most fires are due to a fuel leak. There are a few unfused circuits that may cause smoke and wire melting but If you are in the car at the time, an electrical problem should give you enough time to disconnect the battery.

You do keep a wrench handy in the battery compartment?

[micmak]

Parking in the direct line of fire of an active flame thrower is one of the most efficient ways to get a DeLorean to catch fire. In fact, I believe it would work with almost any car. It is not recommended practice however.

Thanks for your question.


......Mike......

[DMC5180]

Generally, Engine compartment fires are the most common when there is a fire. The reasons of which are usually (fuel or vapor on hot exhaust). The source could be a chaffed or cracked injector line. Or someone was doing work on the fuel system and forgot to tighten a banjo bolt or reused an old copper gasket that didn't seal properly or over torqued a banjo bolt either cracking the bolt or splitting the gasket. Beyond that you can have debris built up over time from being parked under trees or mouse nesting close to the exhaust. The bad thing is, unless the fire is put out immediately the chances of what the source was gets burned up or melted.

I don't think the Delorean is more or less susceptible than any other vehicle to fires.

Although some have claimed (Insurance money) to be a reason, especially in the mid 80's after the company was bankrupt. I'm sure some tried to cash out while the cars still held value since it was getting harder find parts or get places to work on them.

I once drove past a Mini-Van on the interstate at about 4 AM that was completely engulfed in flames. (Fire trucks were present). I doubt the source was ever found. The occupants were all safe at distance watching it burn.

[Farrar]

It's not like DeLoreans are fire-prone. Make sure your engine has a good ground and you don't have any fuel leaks. Pretty simple, really. I think my car is the only DeLorean to have caught fire for no known reason.

[DMCMW Dave]

That I've seen -

#1 - Broken Fuel Lines on the engine is the most common.
#2 - Locked HVAC Fan motor (one time). Set the dash on fire around the glovebox, melted part of the underbody. I've seen other cars with locked motors, they will pull a ton of current and pop the breaker but they can still get very hot. The car was very repairable
#3 - electrical fire near the radio. Cause undetermined. Lots of fiberglass damage but is back on the road.

[Dangermouse]

Causes for my two car-b-ques (non-D):

1. Someone (not me) had been working on the fuel lines. He had replaced on but not the other - don't know if it was the one he worked on or the original one. Anyway, fuel on hot exhaust time - very exciting while driving!

2. Some form of wiring issue under dash. Had thought I'd smelled burnt insulation earlier that day but couldnt be sure Came out of the library to find parked car ablaze, FD on the scene and owner of white BMW conv (with top down and parked beside me) quite irate. I had just bought the car. Found out years later, via carfax, that the car had been a salvage repaired, un-disclosed to me.

[WelmoedJ]

The car was torched by an estranged wife!
Rod
10921

Another type of fuse blown! :)

[Kenny_Z]

Parking too close to an Italian sports car?
http://www.imaginelifestyles.com/sites/all/files/u2/lamborghini_gallardo_bursts_into_flames_in_scottis h_highlands.jpg

I once got a lecture from Hervey when I mentioned I wanted new relays because I was paranoid of fire.

[DeLorean]

A car with proper fuses, working CB's (or replaced with fuses) and a non leaking fuel system should be just as safe as any car. Burn downs are frequently causes by either fuel leaks or aftermarket wiring which is improperly sized, improperly routed, or improperly fused.

So many times I have seen shade tree radio installs where the constant hot is run directly to the battery with the fusible link near the radio itself, and NOT the battery. The wire from the battery all the way to the radio has many opportunities for chafe through along the way... years from now when it finally rubs through, if it were to go touch ground, that wire will get hotter than an element in a toaster oven and burn the car right down.

A case of a little bit of knowledge doing a lot of damage. People think they know wiring and cause a serious burn down risk years down the road.

[Bitsyncmaster]

A car with proper fuses, working CB's (or replaced with fuses) and a non leaking fuel system should be just as safe as any car. Burn downs are frequently causes by either fuel leaks or aftermarket wiring which is improperly sized, improperly routed, or improperly fused.

So many times I have seen shade tree radio installs where the constant hot is run directly to the battery with the fusible link near the radio itself, and NOT the battery. The wire from the battery all the way to the radio has many opportunities for chafe through along the way... years from now when it finally rubs through, if it were to go touch ground, that wire will get hotter than an element in a toaster oven and burn the car right down.

A case of a little bit of knowledge doing a lot of damage. People think they know wiring and cause a serious burn down risk years down the road.

+1

These high power base amps are installed with 6 AWG wire right to the battery. There should be a circuit breaker (or fuse, link) right at the battery.

[David T]

Because the Delorean has fuel injection, the fuel is under a lot of pressure. If you are not careful and have a fuel leak because of a leaky copper seal (or maybe you forgot one or it dropped out and you didn't notice it) a kinked, bent, stretched fuel line, or a broken banjo bolt you get a fuel leak. With the high pressure it sprays all over. Once you get a source of ignition ( a hot exhaust pipe) you have Delorean flambe. Luckily this most often happens while or just after you worked on it so hopefully you were checking for a leak and caught it before any bad things happened. There have been some electrical fires usually by the relays and fuse block. A good reason to inspect the area regularly for signs of overheating. If you smell something burning, stop and check it before it becomes all too obvious. The fuel system MUST be ABSOLUTELY leak tight. Even a tiny leak is VERY dangerous. The fuel will atomize and be invisible. Once ignited it will be a blowtorch. BTW this advice goes for just about every modern fuel injected car.
David Teitelbaum

[DeLorean]

Because the Delorean has fuel injection, the fuel is under a lot of pressure. If you are not careful and have a fuel leak because of a leaky copper seal (or maybe you forgot one or it dropped out and you didn't notice it) a kinked, bent, stretched fuel line, or a broken banjo bolt you get a fuel leak. With the high pressure it sprays all over.

frequently with this sort of a leak you get a nice fine mist of gas spray. A drip is bad, but that fine mist makes gas even more easy to lignite

[Jeffu]

Yep! Exactly what those two above me said!

This fire occurred as the result of either a cracked or burst injection/supply line. It happened this last fall while our club was participating in a parade. We had approximately 10 cars present and this car was the last in our group. I was driving the car for my buddy who owns 2 "D's", my wife was ahead in our car and my buddy in his other car.

We had just turned off at the end of the parade route when the car died. I tried to start it a couple of times and it was a no go. On the third attempt it did start but ran for only a few seconds. Then came that ominous, low level "Whoof" sound! You could see the flames "flash" under the car and up around the doors and front area. My nephew and I jumped out of the car and got to a safe distance. Once all of the fuel had burnt off, the remaining flames ignited the rear louver and engine cover and it was all over.

I thank the good Lord that this did not happen on the main parade route!! We had a large Girl Scout group walking behind us and the sheer number of people lined up on the streets would have made it very hard for the fire department to get to us in a timely manner. I am pretty sure the front fuel tank would have gone before the FD could have reached the car.

Ultimately the insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. My buddy accepted the stated value loss settlement check, less the salvage value and retained possession the vehicle. He plans on rebuilding it in the new future.

While car fires, even DeLorean fires are rare, they can still happen. IMHO I believe a very important upgrade for our vehicles is the newer, better designed fuel injection/supple lines that the various vendors have available. It may not be something we think about often, but 30 yr old poly injection lines can get weak and can simply break down and have disastrous results.

I still think about that damn fire every time I get in my car, seems like it is always in the back of my head! Hopefully those thoughts will subside after I have a chance to upgrade my lines this winter.

[QuadcityDMC]

My buddy found a gas line leak on my car. I just had a stage II put in and been driving around about a month or so, he was looking at the new engine and noticed a little spot on top of the right had valve cover. Looked like honey, I took a photo and sent it to DMCMW because I was not 100% if it was gas. Email from Dave said it looked like a fuel line leak and it should be fixed ASAP. He sent me two new copper washers, removed and installed the new one and dropped the other one. I have not had a problem "yet"

I

[Iznodmad]

Damn, 10 cars in a parade and nobody had a fire extinguisher? Granted, it may not have saved it....but if either of my DeLoreans ever catch fire then I am going to try and save it with my little 2.5 pounder.

[Farrar]

Damn, 10 cars in a parade and nobody had a fire extinguisher?

Quite right. When my car caught fire, I pulled over and sprayed it out. Minimal damage. New vacuum hoses, plug wires, engine ground wire, and air filter, and bam -- the car was roadworthy again. Insurance didn't even get a phone call from me.

[Rhsxo]

I had an original owner tell me that in 1982 they got together with the NCDMC group and drove up to Yosemite for the day. On their way back, around Knights Ferry, one of the cars caught on fire and burned up. They traced the problem to a faulty fuel filter that caught the engine on fire. He emphasized to me that I need to ensure I have a new fuel filter that is away from anything that could spark.