Fire! Crap!
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Fire! Crap!
Hey guys,
Maybe y'all have seen something like this, lend me your experience.
I lost power coming around turn 11 at ACC South Course. It turns out, that was very likely the crank sensor melting.
I pulled way over in the grass, not knowing what to expect.
My timing belt cover caught fire as I parked. It "seems to have" started near the bottom/front edge. I'll leave out the details of the aftermath but you can read https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1303719 if you care.
The belt looks like in "mostly" good shape, besides where it was partly on fire after parking. There seemed to be some molten plastic stuck to the back of it.
So, plastic was melting while the motor was spinning.
Any insight as to the culprit? Motor was "hot". No AC, no PS, not much else on that side. Running Spec VR's with no dust shield nor inner wheel well on that side.
I'll put up a video of my fire drill.
I sat in the car watching it smoke, to avoid red-flagging the HPDE4/TT group. That almost worked. But after the hood paint started bubbling I figured it was time to act.
-Chris
Edit: No, no exhaust, turbo, or other hot things run over there.
Maybe y'all have seen something like this, lend me your experience.
I lost power coming around turn 11 at ACC South Course. It turns out, that was very likely the crank sensor melting.
I pulled way over in the grass, not knowing what to expect.
My timing belt cover caught fire as I parked. It "seems to have" started near the bottom/front edge. I'll leave out the details of the aftermath but you can read https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1303719 if you care.
The belt looks like in "mostly" good shape, besides where it was partly on fire after parking. There seemed to be some molten plastic stuck to the back of it.
So, plastic was melting while the motor was spinning.Any insight as to the culprit? Motor was "hot". No AC, no PS, not much else on that side. Running Spec VR's with no dust shield nor inner wheel well on that side.
I'll put up a video of my fire drill.
I sat in the car watching it smoke, to avoid red-flagging the HPDE4/TT group. That almost worked. But after the hood paint started bubbling I figured it was time to act.-Chris
Edit: No, no exhaust, turbo, or other hot things run over there.
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From: Fort Worth, TX
Re: Fire! Crap! (Chris F)
Get a billet aluminum cover y0!!!
Seriously, I always thought that was a stupid idea of Honda to throw a plastic cover on a potentially "hot" part of the engine that doesn't get much airflow.
What kind of oil temps were you looking at as you pulled over? If they're your usual 300*F+ then it could have just gotten close to the flash point of the JDM plastic and let go.
Speaking of this, I've been meaning to throw a fire extinguisher in my car. I still can't decide if I want to put it on the A pillar or behind the passenger seat though.
Seriously, I always thought that was a stupid idea of Honda to throw a plastic cover on a potentially "hot" part of the engine that doesn't get much airflow.
What kind of oil temps were you looking at as you pulled over? If they're your usual 300*F+ then it could have just gotten close to the flash point of the JDM plastic and let go.
Speaking of this, I've been meaning to throw a fire extinguisher in my car. I still can't decide if I want to put it on the A pillar or behind the passenger seat though.
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Re: Fire! Crap! (Def)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Def »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What kind of oil temps were you looking at as you pulled over? If they're your usual 300*F+ then it could have just gotten close to the flash point of the JDM plastic and let go.</TD></TR></TABLE>
About 310.
For the fire extinguisher-- I saw a Viper with a small APC one like mine hose clamped to the e-brake handle.
About 310.
For the fire extinguisher-- I saw a Viper with a small APC one like mine hose clamped to the e-brake handle.
Thread Starter
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Re: Fire! Crap! (chjkingme)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chjkingme »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">with no wheel well, any chance a raccoon or some other random **** could have found its way in there? -staggers off to bed-</TD></TR></TABLE>
I hit 2 cones earlier that day, dead center of the car. Cracked the lip, but I didn't hit anything on that side...
*shrug*
I hit 2 cones earlier that day, dead center of the car. Cracked the lip, but I didn't hit anything on that side...
*shrug*
Thread Starter
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Re: Fire! Crap! (Chris F)
One lap, 1:44.11
http://www.elit3.com/upload.php?file=lap_comp.avi
S2000 360 spin:
http://www.elit3.com/upload.php?file=s2k_comp.avi
Fire:
http://www.elit3.com/upload.php?file=fire_comp.avi
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Thread Starter
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Re: (Sean O'Gorman)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyway, call 1-800-847-4389, and you'll be back on track again. </TD></TR></TABLE>
:middlefinger:
</TD></TR></TABLE>:middlefinger:
Thread Starter
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Re: (JasmaDosa)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JasmaDosa »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yow! Sorry to see that Chris. Nice CW engine bay </TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah, it's "powercoated" now.
</TD></TR></TABLE>Yeah, it's "powercoated" now.
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Re: (menkio)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by menkio »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">should never take your gloves off, esp when fire is around eh ?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Absolutely. I was getting itchy and nervous.
Absolutely. I was getting itchy and nervous.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,440
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From: Elkton, MD, 21921
Re: (Chris F)
hi chris.
glad you were OK!
i have a possible suggestion; i have seen the plastic cover rub the belts and it will make enough friction to get hot enough to completely melt the cover where it is touching the belt. i have not seen it get hot enough to ignite, but i have seen it plenty melted!
any chance the cover got dislodged, etc?
good luck fixing her up!
todd
glad you were OK!
i have a possible suggestion; i have seen the plastic cover rub the belts and it will make enough friction to get hot enough to completely melt the cover where it is touching the belt. i have not seen it get hot enough to ignite, but i have seen it plenty melted!
any chance the cover got dislodged, etc?
good luck fixing her up!
todd
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Re: (ITRbroham)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITRbroham »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Chris F.="The Burninator"
Chris N.="The Berminator"</TD></TR></TABLE>
Chris F takes the cake on this one. I have been redeemed!
chris - who has a new car almost ready for ... avoiding ditches.
Chris N.="The Berminator"</TD></TR></TABLE>
Chris F takes the cake on this one. I have been redeemed!
chris - who has a new car almost ready for ... avoiding ditches.
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: HP, NC, USA
Re: (Todd Reid)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd Reid »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
i have a possible suggestion; i have seen the plastic cover rub the belts and it will make enough friction to get hot enough to completely melt the cover where it is touching the belt. i have not seen it get hot enough to ignite, but i have seen it plenty melted!
todd</TD></TR></TABLE>
That's my guess.
i have a possible suggestion; i have seen the plastic cover rub the belts and it will make enough friction to get hot enough to completely melt the cover where it is touching the belt. i have not seen it get hot enough to ignite, but i have seen it plenty melted!
todd</TD></TR></TABLE>
That's my guess.
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Re: (menkio)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by menkio »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">makes me wanna buy a fire system. plumb it in the interior and engine bay, but make a valve, so it can be bolth, or just 1 or the other.. shrug</TD></TR></TABLE>
Or, 2 fire systems.
Or, 2 fire systems.
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Re: (Chris F)
Found the reason for the fire.
Two of the bolts holding the turbo to the manifold came loose.
The resulting exhaust leak sprayed hot exhaust at the block, which melted/burned the timing belt cover.
Oh well. Nothing too sinister, at least. Time for a trailer and a bigger oil cooler. And a bigger fire extinguisher. And a new hood. And air filter.
Car is back on the road, after a timing belt, tensioner, timing belt cover, cleaning melted plastic off of various things with a wire wheel (cam gears, crank pulley, etc.) $592 total including labor (wow, nice! Thanks Dave @ Whip Factory for the quick and cheap service!!)
-Chris
Two of the bolts holding the turbo to the manifold came loose.
The resulting exhaust leak sprayed hot exhaust at the block, which melted/burned the timing belt cover.Oh well. Nothing too sinister, at least. Time for a trailer and a bigger oil cooler. And a bigger fire extinguisher. And a new hood. And air filter.
Car is back on the road, after a timing belt, tensioner, timing belt cover, cleaning melted plastic off of various things with a wire wheel (cam gears, crank pulley, etc.) $592 total including labor (wow, nice! Thanks Dave @ Whip Factory for the quick and cheap service!!)
-Chris
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