Yesterday, I took the car to Subway to get something to eat. I was busy, so I got it to go. I got in the car, turned the key and while it was cranking, there was a muffled explosion. I looked in the rearview mirror and I saw flames. WTF...

I grabbed my supersized coke, opened the rear deck and threw my coke on the fire (driver's side - cylinders 1-2-3). While I was refilling my drink, someone brought me a fire extinguisher and I was able to put the fire out., I agree - either me or the car is cursed. Nice sight - a bright yellow Porsche in a subway parking lot coated with fire extinguisher chemical and carbon black.

Anyway, my wife brings the pickup and the trailer and I haul it home some hours later. I was thinking since I have all reciepts, it might have been better off to let it burn.

When I get it home, I have carbon black on the interior of the engine compartment and parts, and worse, dry chemical fire retardant. I cleaned this out using large amounts of water to neutralize the corrosive components of the chemical. In order to diagnose the problem, I turn the key back on which turns the pumps on for 3 seconds. You would have thought I had water hose in the engine compartment. The #1 cylinder fuel injector is seated so deep in the manifold that it separated from the stock 3.2L fuel rail allowing pressurized fuel to spray everywhere. The number 2 injector had a very small leak too. This must have sprayed on the turbo and fired off. Can you imagine what it would have been like going down the road? Or in rush hour traffic with no help?

After cleaning everything and pulling the fuel rail, I decided to place an injector O-ring deep in the manifold bung, then place the injector (with it's o-ring intact) on top. This pushes the injector up into the fuel rail, enough to seal it. I tested the 1-2-3 injectors and no leaks. To be safe, I did the same to the 4-5-6 side.

This morning, I put it all back together and washed the engine compartment as well as the exterior to make sure all the chemical was gone. I am happy to say, the only damage was to a silicone hose that started to melt - I replaced it. The wiring harness, injector wires, air filter, rear deck (fiberglass), etc were just fine. The only sign of fire now is the manifold is blackened somewhat.

The next test was to drive it to make sure nothing was burned where I couldn't get to, and make sure the o-ring placed in the manifold was not blocking the injector nozzle. The car runs great and I learned yet ANOTHER lesson with a custom build.

Rob and you other guys with the 3.2 manifold set up might want to check your fuel rails...

 

Don, man I'm sorry to see this happen to you. You need to write a book.. I think that we would buy it just to help your cause out..

Glad you are okay.. There would have been so many places that you could have been, such as on a viaduct with bumper to bumper traffic.. That the outcome would have been different.

When I designed my fuel rails, I machined stainless locks to keep the injectors firmly held to the fuel rails..

It's nice to see you up and running..

Edit.. I think that we need to install halon systems..

 

speechless...

 

Makes me all the happier that I opted to install a small fire extinguisher to the underside of the passenger seat bracket... halon to boot.

I was at a DE and watched a car pull off the track due to an electrical problem, and the dry grass underneath ignited. Nothing serious resulted, but it still got me thinking that a small extinguisher would be prudent.

Really glad to hear that nothing "serious" resulted from your incident!

 

I'm really sorry to hear about this latest problem. You really keep you're composure better than I could.

I've been thinking about putting a full fire supression system on my car and this is just one more story that'll make the justification easier.

 

[QUOTE=125shifter][snip] You really keep you're composure better than I could.
/QUOTE]

And this project is supposed to be my "therapy", my sanity check. It could be worse - I could live in Lebanon, or Iraq, or....

 

I too have thought about having a plumbed in extinguisher.

 

Wow Don. Sorry.

The stock Carrera has little clips to hold the injectors to the rails. Did yours have those clips? I don't even know if you have stock Carrera rails or not.

Dean

 

I had a carb fire in my race a few weeks back. Burning inside the left carb. I pulled the on board fire system (5 lb. Halon) With 3 nozzles, about 1/3 was directed at the fire. The fire was surpressed until the bottle was empty, then started back up. I had the 2.5 lb. halon bottle under my seat in my hand and was going to hit it again. One of my friends was poring water on the carb and put it out before I got back there.

An on-board system is designed to suppress the fire long enough for the driver to get out. If it can't hit the flame directly it may not put it out. I would suggest a minimum of a 2.5 lb bottle mounted somewhere where you can get to it from the drivers seat.
There is a system available that uses a water base chemical that you can recharge your self.

 

Don,
I feel for you...
Yes - a fire extinquisher is a good idea. I have both a fire system & extinquisher in mine. I'm also thinking about the same thing as I'm finishing mine - my aftermarket injectors doesn't have the slot to accept the factory lock clips so am thinking about how to secure them too.
Hope this would be the last of your "adventure"...

 

Fire is everybodies worse nightmare. Glad your OK.

I have a 10 lb system in my car with a hand held bottle as well. What I have though is two nozzles in the passenger compartment and one in the front trunk aimed at the gas tank. I figure I want to save my bacon before anything gets really bad. Adding another head to the engine compartment would only deplete the botle quicker.

 

Don, which injectors are you using?

 

I use Mototron 60lb, made by Siemens. I didn't know there were clips and these injectors look like the have the facility to use some sort of clip.

Who is a good source for fire extinguishers?

 

Are they the long or short ones? They come in two different sizes and it sounds like you have the short which are shorter than a stock Bosch injector.

Halon is harder and harder to find since it is considered a hazardous material and shipping is also an issue. The new stuff is called AFFF.

 

Don - I was thinking when I saw this post, that someone is reviving an old post or something, only to be shocked that it actually happened to you yesterday.

I am sorry to read this....but man your car could have been burnt to the ground and also bad your Sub Sandwich would have gone with it....j/k!

Anyway I am glad you figured out it was the injectors and all is fine and yes another lesson learnt.

I think for any car guy, fire is the about the lowest point you can reach.

And for those of you who have those little $15 mickey mouse fire extinguishers, they are good for absolutely nothing. It might put out a cigarette on a good day.
Yasin