jackb_ms Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Or how to deal with them. Apart from calling the fire brigade what is the best course of action to limit the fire damage so the car can be repaired? Or what no to do Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtWork Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Carry an extinguisher somewhere handy i.e. not in the boot - you won't have time for faffing with poppers, Velcro and rummaging among whatever you've got in there.  Squirt the extinguisher down the bonnet louvres - don't whip the bonnet off and give the fire lots of air to chew on. Be fully insured, in case it's a proper BBQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Drive into the nearest river. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted November 13, 2013 Area Representative Share Posted November 13, 2013 Jack This worries me too. A 21 would be completely wrecked by an engine fire. John Bell has installed an under-bonnet extinguisher and I have considered doing likewise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surmsed Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Only someone called Ford could recommend that! 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_h Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Plumbed in extinguisher system   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 don't post on Blatchat - your better off getting out of the car 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virden Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I was travelling at 60mph when a bango coupling loosen on my front Weber. 😳 First I got a spray of fuel on the windscreen, then it caught. I killed engine, emergency stop, followed by rapid exit, then grabbed the 2kg powder extinguisher i had mounted on floor in front of the passenget seat. Lots of squirts through looves and the fire was killed. Damage ? A few wires, new fuel line and a vintage crackled paint finish to the first set of looves. Luckly I had a separate kill switch fitted, had I depended on the ignition key to kill the engine, the damage could have been so much worse......locked steering 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackb_ms Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 I was not thinking about Caterham related fires. The other week I rang the fire brigade when I spotted a Merc slowing down with flame coming out from the engine bay, and I realise Ididn't know the best course of action apart from calling the Fire Brigade. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCol Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Quoting Roger Ford: Drive into the nearest river.dip your headlights...? 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Turn the ignition off, get everyone out of the car and away to a safe distance, call 999, Only if safe to do so ... aim the fire extinguisher through the radiator grille. Don't fully open the bonnet. Otherwise, keep everyone clear ... it's only a car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtWork Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Ah, well apart from the louvres bit it's just the same - don't open the bonnet fully, just pop it enough to get the extinguisher nozzle in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy couchman Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 The thing a lot of people forget is to turn the ignition off - especially if the engine has stopped already. Don't ask the driver - check yourself before applying the extinguisher. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 On injection cars this won't matter, once the engine is stopped the fuel pump is killed as it requires a signal from a crank sensor, otherwise the ECU drops the earth to the pump. Older carb models however running Facets pumps - this will continue to tick merrily and feed the fire nicely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Get your phone out and post it on Youchube! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheManAlive Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Quoting Dave Jackson: don't post on Blatchat - your better off getting out of the car 😬  That was what I was thinking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Rich_Bernie Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I'd get a foam (AFFF?) extinguisher. My car was extinguished with a powder one, and short of stripping the engine bay out I will never get rid of the powder residue that got baked on. Â Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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