Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: zed on September 05, 2006, 11:53:30 PM

Title: car caught fire
Post by: zed on September 05, 2006, 11:53:30 PM
hi

picked up car today from bodyshop and noticed it was mis-firing .got about 2 miles down road and a warning light came on .it looks like a catalyst and its got heat written on it. i pulled up and flames had come out of exhaust and started to burn the bumper. luckily someone pulled up and put fire out for me.
 called RAC out asked him if he thinks its the plugs but he said he wont be able to get them out. so he got me recovered back to the bodyshop.

any ideas wot it could be plugs, cat.

thanks

zed
Title: please help
Post by: zed on September 06, 2006, 09:25:28 AM
bump

hi

anyone got any  ideas please.
Title: car caught fire
Post by: Rixio on September 06, 2006, 10:19:35 AM
Zed give me a call bro :)
Title: reply
Post by: zed on September 06, 2006, 12:23:10 PM
hi

i dont have your numb1er

0773746884
Title: car caught fire
Post by: Ricco_04 on September 06, 2006, 01:02:26 PM
Dam, that\'s no good - hope it\'s something simple :)
Title: Erp
Post by: lanciachris on September 07, 2006, 02:26:10 PM
Misfire = lots of unburnt fuel into cat. Cat = tries to clear up this fuel, gets very hot in the process, catches fire.

At the very least the cat will have melted - if youre lucky youll be able to just fix the misfire and replace the cat. In worst case many other things will have been damaged by the fire.

Jag v12s like to do this too which is how i know (not that it ever happened to mine)
Title: reply
Post by: zed on September 07, 2006, 05:44:24 PM
hi everyone

thanks for that, i hope its not the cat but i wont know until i get the car started up. i must thank Eddie who is on this forum ,for coming out to my car and showing me have to remove the plugs . He was a real star. Not many people like that around anymore.
the plugs were really fouled so the car just didnt start. im going to get a new set of plugs and try again tomorrow.

thanks
zed
Title: plugs and cat.
Post by: Eddie on September 07, 2006, 07:50:52 PM
Hi Zed thanks for that mate, only wish we could have got her started, she almost did.
When are you at the place tomorrow, I can pop up and give another hand at about 2:00 again if you want.
It may be worth removing the cat and getting it emptied, do they have ramps and stuff? to get to the cat, that way you will now for sure.

If you need anything just give us a shout.

Cheers
Title: reply
Post by: zed on September 08, 2006, 12:16:34 AM
hi Eddie

First of all just like to say thanks again. you are a top bloke.
secondly i got back to huddersfield about 5.30pm and about 7.30 pm the guys from the garage rung me to tell me they got it started. Got there straight away, drove it back on M62- no problems at all.

cheers

zed
Title: good news
Post by: Eddie on September 08, 2006, 07:19:49 AM
Did it get new plugs or was it just perseistance cranking it over in the end.

Glad yo got her back home nice and safe mate.

Cheers
Title: car caught fire
Post by: zed on September 08, 2006, 09:37:15 AM
hi

no new plugs, just cranking over.im gonna do a service and change plugs straight away then im gonna sort out that apexi commander. so i will need a induction kit and dump valve before i get that set up.
looking for bargains eddie - lol .

cheers

zed
Title: car caught fire
Post by: lanciachris on September 08, 2006, 09:47:30 AM
No offense, but you should really be looking at the condition of the cat that caught fire first. It will have melted and become completely useless at doing its job and will also restrict exhaust flow
Title: reply
Post by: zed on September 08, 2006, 09:54:33 AM
hi

thanks for that mate. and yes you are right i will do that. what should i be looking for. if it was the cat then wouldnt the heat warning light have come on.

thanks

zed
Title: car caught fire
Post by: lanciachris on September 08, 2006, 09:59:25 AM
The only way to be sure is removing the cat and actually looking at it. not the happiest prospect, but a better option than having a melted lump that used to be a catalytic converter in your exhaust :)

Random article on the topic -
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/mobilesource/vetech/catfire.html
Title: reply
Post by: zed on September 08, 2006, 10:59:30 AM
hi lanciachris

ok thanks i will.

zed
Title: car caught fire
Post by: cjr on September 08, 2006, 09:59:36 PM
did the car go in an oven when in the bodyshop? this can cause injector probs.
Title: reply
Post by: zed on September 08, 2006, 10:40:33 PM
hi

no didnt go in oven.

thanks
zed