Just age man...replace them all.

 

I've grown steadily more concerned - even paranoid - about the 33 year old hoses on my car. Greg just replaced *all* of them, to my immense satisfaction.

It does not make sense to drive cars as old as ours without replacing things that lead to catastrophic failures. My '83 is fitted with the pierced leather upholstery and the intestinal gas extraction system, but when the exhaust line gets old it can crimp, causing a dangerous buildup of hydrogen sulfide and methane.

 

Sorry to see that.

When I replaced the high pressure hose on my 86.5 a year or so, it was leaking and smoking so I guess I came close. I wonder why the fluid ignites sometimes and not others. Maybe exhaust manifold heat just makes it smoke, but if there's a lose ignition spark in the area it will ignite? Scary stuff.

 

Really sorry to hear this. A reminder to us all to be vigilant in maintaining fuel and ATF lines, but that even a conscientious owner like yourself can experience a major catastrophe. Good luck with the rebuild, and hang with us!

 

So...I am the OP but it is not my car. Another RL member in the area, a friend, sent me pictures this morning of his beloved shark. I reposted here. Many of you know him by his RL handle, "Awilli6". Since Ash has not chimed in here I know he is pretty devastated, he has lots of work in that car. I just posted to get the message out that we all need to be careful, and of course to generate some support for Ash.

 

To say I felt sick when I saw that is an understatement, and I am sure we can only imagine what your friend Ash is feeling...
Hopefully as Brian intimated it can be rebuilt.

Meanwhile... This has served as yet another reminder to me that I will not be turning the key on in my '79 with it's still original 37 yr old lines of all fluid types, including the recently discovered "perished" fuel lines, until I have replaced them all.

I am too far away to be of any real help to you Ash, but I am sure you will not suffer in silence.

 

Awilli6, my heart goes out to you I hope you get back on the road soon

A huge fear I have is mine catching fire inside the garage after a drive and burning the house down. I have the fuel lines inspected twice a year, but I had no idea about the power steering line causing fires....yikes.

 

No problem- that was in your first post and my sympathies were directed towards Ash- as an RL'er I know he'll catch up with this thread at some point and read all our best wishes.

 

Besides the aging factor of the lines...a spot you have to keep an eye on...is right in front of the drivers side shock tower, both rubber and steel P/S lines have a tendency to rub together at this point. And the hoses are above the exhaust manifold here, so between the combined forces, gravity and high pressure, fluid can get dumped onto the extremely hot manifold very easily.

Brian.

 

Thanks guys. I still had to travel to Knoxville yesterday so didn't get a chance to comment. I was about to drive it to Knoxville when it burst into flames. I changed all of the hoses, PS, fuel lines less than 3 years ago. I think the fire began on the passenger side. The drivers side hole was one of the last things to happen. I think that line may have burst from the heat. About 5 years of ownership and $$$$ spent. It was a traveler. Memphis to DC about 6 times, San Antonio. I think I will add up the receipts now. Mechanicals were a challenge for me. I know the electronics will break me if I try and bring it back. hobbibill just stopped by in his 2002. Told me about Richard inAtlanta. I'll speak to him about rebuild.

No injuries...not the basket all my eggs were in...life sucks, but it could suck worse

 

Just added the receipts.....Drum Roll! $9968.72 in parts alone. Roger at 928sRUS probably talked me out of another $2k in parts I didn't need. Did all of the work myself other than freon & alignment.

 

That seriously sucks alright!!!

Is there any way you could do a little investigation as to the exact cause? It troubles me that those lines were so "new" I am about to do mine, totally understand if you are over it though mate.

 

LOL, that's funny right there.

As for $10,000 in five years, I only wish I had spent so little on my S4. If I add up my receipts I'd have the GDP of a small African country. But I'm still mystified about the cause of the tragedy and you have my greatest sympathies.

 

Really shocked and sorry to see this.

If all suspect lines that new, and fire began RHS, I wonder if there was failure of injector o-ring or location on rail or in manifold? Any recent work done requiring removal of fuel rails/injectors?

 

I cannot recommend enough that everyone throw a fire extinguisher in every car they own, even newer cars. It doesn't sound like it would have helped much in this case but it could give you a fighting chance and they are cheap.