FIRE

[chriscutlass]

well as u all no prob..i live in nj, and for the past month or 2 its been hot as balls outside with out rain....well i went to go start my car and all of a sudden i see a big fire starting inside engine conpartment... any ideas how to fix and resolve my problem....i think i saved some of the wiring harness...thanks-chris

 

[krazykyle]

get out of the heat and explain yourself

 

[chriscutlass]

well i talked to my friend who happens to b a mechanic he said its my fuseable like....any idea where that is on a 307 cutlass supreme?

 

[megaladon6]

first, look through the engine compartment. the source of the fire is usually apparent. (you may not want the battery hooked up at first--just to be careful) look for leaks, oil spills, bare wires, etc.
i think your friend may be an idiot, i'm assuming he didn't look at it first? never make an assumption when it comes to engine fires!!!!! now the fusible links are a definite possibility, but so is a leak, old spills/leaks coating the engine, cracked block (killed my old VW), starter wiring, mice in the wrong spot, wire shorts, backfires...

 

[crucial118]

Check the power wire going down to the starter. it might have hard and brittle insulation on it and it might have grounded out on the engine block. And if your 307 is like mine, there is plenty of oil caked on the side of the block, to fuel the fire. My car-b-q happened this way during the winter. I just replaced that wire and all was good.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Fires don't hurt motors, just the hoses,belts, and wiring. My Aunt's slant 6 Duster backfired and ran in reverse for a second, severing the rubber fuel line that Mopar had cleverly placed next to the distributor showering it with fuel. POOOF!!! I just replaced all the wiring and hoses plus a tune-up and she was good as new.