Corvette Fire
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
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Corvette Fire
Has anyone had any experience with a spontaneous fire under hood of 1992 corvette after sitting for 3 hours? I had a battery installed 2 days prior to the fire. Observed installation, and attendants did not completely remove fender panel. Only removed top bolts, one attendant pulled panel out while other attendant squeezed old battery out, and new one in. Took them about 10 minutes. Old battery was 6 years old and died a natural death. I've owned and maintained this car for over 10 years.
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
Most likely due to a fuel leaking issue rather than a battery issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Vermilion OH
this is why you do your own work. this way you know it was done properly. i have never heard of a car fire started by an improperly installed battery, but that's not to say that it can't happen.
Race Director
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From: moraga ca
If you do your own work and the car burns down, at least you know who to blame. 
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Fuel+Oxygen+Heat=FIRE
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
I agree a fire needs fuel as well as air and heat. But "fuel" does not have to be gasoline, it can also be wiring insulation.
Regardless of a possible gasoline leak, OP says the car was off for 3 hours before the fire. That's more than enough for the exhaust to cool down. It might have still been warm to the touch but was certainly below the temp at which it would light off leaking gas.
So if it was electrical it could have lit up the wiring. If it was leaking gas, something had to set it off. I know it does not take much of a spark but there had to be something to light the gas - IF that's what was involved.
Regardless of a possible gasoline leak, OP says the car was off for 3 hours before the fire. That's more than enough for the exhaust to cool down. It might have still been warm to the touch but was certainly below the temp at which it would light off leaking gas.
So if it was electrical it could have lit up the wiring. If it was leaking gas, something had to set it off. I know it does not take much of a spark but there had to be something to light the gas - IF that's what was involved.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,263
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From: Wabasha Mn
Some certain GM models like a Pontiac Grand Prix had some kind of electrical short problem that only happened after the car sat for 2-3 hours and the wires started burning. I saw this happen to a car down the street. I tried to help put out with a fire ext. but with the hood closed it was hard to do. We shot some water on it from a hose but then the fire department came and they could not get the hood open so had to punch a hole in the hood to pry it open. By the time they got the fire out the engine compartment. wires, and plastic fender wells were a big glob of burnt plastic. Some of these GM owners had their cars parked in their garages and they lost their homes too. Seems rather suspect that it happened after a battery change.
