Omega Owners Forum - Spontaneous combustion!!!

Ljay

Omega Baron

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North Wales
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Drives: 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate, 3.2 Auto MV6 Estate

Spontaneous combustion!!!
28. Nov 2009 at 18:37

My car has nearly gone up in smoke!!!!

We heard a strange noise coming from outside, went out to investigate and found it to be a very poorly sounding alarm noise from my car!!!
Lifted the bonnet to disconnect the power sounder and was greeted by smoke, shortly followed by flames!!!

Fire brigade called out by which time Jimbob had put the fire out and worked out that the power sounder batteries had failed and leaked acid, hence fire!

The car hadn't been driven for 24 hours! Scary that something like that could happen to a cold car!! Thankfully I wasnt out with the kids in at as happens daily!!

Fire brigade arrived and checked the car over, filled in their report and left!

Jimbob now surveying damage, how scared were we, the car was inches from the front door!

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« Last Edit: 28. Nov 2009 at 18:39 by Ljay »

Been there, fallen over it!

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cem Omega King Offline Posts: 13920 Ankara/Turkey Gender: Drives: 97 2.5 V6 Manual CD- Clio Sport	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #1 - 28. Nov 2009 at 18:40 good to hear nothing serious happened to you and kids
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Ljay Omega Baron Offline The Acrobatics Queen Posts: 2885 North Wales Gender: Drives: 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate, 3.2 Auto MV6 Estate	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #2 - 28. Nov 2009 at 18:45 Thanks Cem, Looks like only the power sounder is damaged, so car lives to fight another day!
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Desperate Den Omega King Offline Posts: 11881	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #3 - 28. Nov 2009 at 18:45 Scary news indeed L, could have been much worse - glad everyone is safe
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cem Omega King Offline Posts: 13920 Ankara/Turkey Gender: Drives: 97 2.5 V6 Manual CD- Clio Sport	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #4 - 28. Nov 2009 at 18:47 Ljay wrote on 28. Nov 2009 at 18:45: Thanks Cem, Looks like only the power sounder is damaged, so car lives to fight another day! power sounder can be changed , but you are not
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STMO123 Ex Member	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #5 - 28. Nov 2009 at 18:49 Power sounder is a useless piece of kit. I disconnected it on both of my omegas.
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Kevin Wood

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Alton, Hampshire
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Drives: 3.2 MV6 (LPG), Westfield

Re: Spontaneous combustion!!!
Reply #6 - 28. Nov 2009 at 19:19

I've suspected the power sounder to be the cause when I've seen reports of fires in this area in the past. Sad

The permanent feed is fused only by an 80 amp fusible link, IIRC, - yet the wire in the loom I wouldn't trust with over 5 amps.

I would advise anyone with a power sounder over 5 years old in their car to either remove it, replace it, replace the batteries in it or fit some inline fuse holders.

I hope the damage is not severe. Cry

Kevin

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Debs. Omega Lord Offline A denizen of The Wirral peninsula Posts: 7386 Gender: Drives: 2.5 V6 CDX Estate (1999)	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #7 - 28. Nov 2009 at 19:22 Oh dear-Lord, Ljay!!!! I`m so thankful you weren`t driving or had the 'tiddlers' in the car at the time; `hope the damage is not too serious?
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Elite Pete Omega King Offline My spider senses are tingling Posts: 17813 Northwich/Chester Gender: Drives: Facelift Wheezel,Breaking 2001 MV6	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #8 - 28. Nov 2009 at 19:22 There have been a few posts on the forum from people whos car has gone up in smoke in the same place. Good thing is everyone and the car is OK.
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Jimbob

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Chester / Flintshire
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Drives: 52 3.2 MV6 Estate & 98 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate

Re: Spontaneous combustion!!!
Reply #9 - 28. Nov 2009 at 19:23

What an episode!

So yes...sat watching starwars when we hear the strangled yelp of a car screaming for help.

Open and start it to try and turn off the alarm.....then see the smoke.

pop the bonnet....lots of smoke, and some little flames....SHIIIIIIITE

Ljay ran in to keep the kids out the way, and call the fire dept out.

I scratch my head for 10 seconds, and grabbed the hose and managed to put it out & Disconnect the battery.

Had the scuttle off by the time the fire crew arrived who checked it was out, and did a little report.

I finished dismantling it all, and made the wires safe, not winning dismantling the sounder....all sealed....any clues?

As has been said, lucky we were there to sort it!

So my advice to you all....is disconnect those sounders, I personally don't want something that can go up in flames like that connected to the car! There is enough neccessary things, without a dodgy alarm siren.

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Jimbob Global Moderator Admin Team Offline Third nipple removal completed succesfuly Posts: 20462 Chester / Flintshire Gender: Drives: 52 3.2 MV6 Estate & 98 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #10 - 28. Nov 2009 at 19:24 Will put the car back together in the morning.... Luckily only the powersounder wires appear damaged, will check properly when its light.
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tunnie

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London, W3
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Re: Spontaneous combustion!!!
Reply #11 - 28. Nov 2009 at 19:34

Jimbob wrote on 28. Nov 2009 at 19:23:

I scratch my head for 10 seconds, and grabbed the hose and managed to put it out & Disconnect the battery.

Water on an electrical fire Shocked

Very lucky there, seen quite a few pre-facelifts catch fire there, good job you were at home and heard it!

Glad i ripped the power sounder out of ours

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Kevin Wood Global Moderator Admin Team Offline Posts: 20377 Alton, Hampshire Gender: Drives: 3.2 MV6 (LPG), Westfield	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #12 - 28. Nov 2009 at 19:35 tunnie wrote on 28. Nov 2009 at 19:34: Water on an electrical fire Nothing wrong with water on a (12 volt ) electrical fire. Kevin
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Jimbob Global Moderator Admin Team Offline Third nipple removal completed succesfuly Posts: 20462 Chester / Flintshire Gender: Drives: 52 3.2 MV6 Estate & 98 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate	Re: Spontaneous combustion!!! Reply #13 - 28. Nov 2009 at 19:37 It did cross my mind.....but weighed up writing car off, versus house it was next too....i wanted those flames gone. I 'knew' what is was....so was prepared to use water....had it been ecu side....would have probabaly waited for firemen
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tunnie

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London, W3
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Re: Spontaneous combustion!!!
Reply #14 - 28. Nov 2009 at 19:40

Kevin Wood wrote on 28. Nov 2009 at 19:35:

tunnie wrote on 28. Nov 2009 at 19:34:

Water on an electrical fire Shocked

Nothing wrong with water on a (12 volt Wink

) electrical fire.

Kevin

Fair do's i was always told that never to use water, but foam related extinguishers on any electrical fire no matter how small.

But in the heat of the moment, with the car so close to the house, i think i would have done the same.

Where they original batteries or replacements?

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« Last Edit: 28. Nov 2009 at 19:41 by tunnie »

Do you break V6's as often as TheBoy? Then you need tunnie's towing services, recovery costs are just the humiliation of being towed by 2/3's of an engine

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