So I had a little mishap in my gt3 last week that I thought I'd share with the forum

Drove to the track one morning to register for a DE on my way to a meeting. Parked the car, neutral, handbrake, turned the key, pulled it out...

Car stayed on, plume of smoke erupted from front-right side of the car. Yes, the car caught fire.

Thankfully, as I was at a race circuit, there was a fire truck, extinguishers and people on the scene in hardly a minute. More importantly, a mechanic with a wrench to disconnect the battery. That stopped the fire but it was a nervous few moments with hoses primed and waiting. Unfortunately, a hole formed in one of the radiator hoses and the coolant promptly spilled out.

Took it to the workshop and the culprit was the "Fan Control Unit". Looked crazy, totally toast. Thankfully the damage was minor and mostly limited to the immediate area.

So now the dealer has the car, and Porsche themselves have taken an interest in the issue. Am waiting now to see what they are going to do.

I've never been so thankful that I was at a racetrack with so much safety equipment and qualified persons within immediate reach, cause who knows what would have happened if the car lit up while parked overnight, or even in the city somewhere during normal use.

I'd like to think that I would have had the presence of mind to figure out to disconnect the battery - but I doubt it.

Thought I'd share my story!

 

damn dude. You caught fire??? No wonder Porsche has taken an interest. We're not talking about Ferrari here!

 

Yup, its been a week and I still can't believe it. Haven't told my wife.

 

Thanks for posting and sharing.

What fan control unit?

 

Glad you are ok! This is a first but please keep us posted.
Weird that the engine stayed on after you removed the key?!

 

When the engine over heats, does the fan turn on even when the eng is OFF ?

 

"On the way to REGISTER for a DE"...sure...

 

Hmmmmm!

 

No insurance on the premises of a race track, so this clearly happened at a supermarket parking lot.

All the fans will operate when the thermostat feels like it, regardless of key position.

I think I'll put a battery isolator switch in my car.

Anyone know the 2010 GT3 RS Clubsport part numbers for the battery switch, please? : )

 

Isolator switch sounds like a good idea, CGT.

This is a bit OT, but it reminds me of the car I bought in Germany, while stationed there in '67. Couldn't afford a P-car, so I got an MGB. British Racing Green with Center lock wire wheels. Could cruise the autobahn at 90 MPH all day in OD, while getting passed by faster cars. Anyway, the MG developed an ignition switch short and the entire wiring harness fried before getting the battery disconnected.

PS The MGB was $2500 and P-car about $4200, NEW!

 

Hmm yes, batt switch sounds pretty good.

 

Engine stayed on, then I stuck the key back in and tried to switch it off... eventually switched off by "switching on". But couldn't get the electronics to switch off.

Of course by this time the electronics were going bananas. Car humorously told me "Visit Workshop". Oh and PASM failed. So now I'm thinking I've got circuitry all over the car that might be damaged.

@TRAKCAR, the one aft of the front-right wheel, the fan for the front radiator.

Battery isolator is not a bad idea after this episode.

 

Visit workshop allright!
Sounds like major short?!

 

No electrical fault should be able to reach any further than a fuse or relay. I imagine there are some devices designed to take significant current, but I can understand Porsche's interest in this case. Being a 997.1, just in terms of years, I'd start looking for a rat chewing through bundles of wires ... the combination of a warm radiator and some tasty insulation makes for a good nest.

 

Thats an interesting theory... except there are no rats here. The apartment building where I park is obsessively maintained and serviced. Never seen so much as an ant.

Plus the unit is isolated, to get to it you need to remove a shield that is bolted on.

Dealer is not very communicative so far. "Looking into it, will let you know"

Car is an 08, with less than 20,000 miles on it. Under warranty, too.