My car commited suicide...

Allen · 23-05-2006, 03:11 PM

Well, here is the story...

I had just done a service on my car, oil change, trans fluid, coolant, clean the idle air valve out ect... and i took it for a test drive around town. I swear, it felt the best it ever has, it ran beautifully.

So, after cruising around for 5 minutes or so, I decided to stop by safeway to buy some junk food.
I parked it, switched it off and locked it.
Walked into safeway, grabbed some crap and headed to the checkouts, when a guy came in saying there is a white fairlane smoking...

I ran outside, only to find my car on fire...

all i could do was call the fire brigade and watch it burn.

When the fire brigade turned up, they opened up the bonnet (smashing it in the process) and put the fire out.

As it turns out, the ford dealer fitted alarm system, had somehow short circuited, and caught fire... this then set fire to the brake fluid... and from there all the wiring just burnt... totally destroying the engine wiring loom, the dash wiring loom, all the engine sensors on the throttlebody and anything else that was plastic under the bonnet.

Funny thing is, i didn't have fire & theft coverage on my insurance.

Basically my car is a write off... im currently stripping it of all the good bits, in the hope i can sell it all, and buy a new car...

Mechanically everything is fine (apart from the total lack of brakes) and interior is still immaculate (a little wet though) and the panels are all straight with no rust.... (except the bonnet... has a slight mark on it ;) )

This is where the fire started, on the drivers suspension tower was the alarm system (That never worked :P ) The fibreglass matt of the circuit board that blew can be seen in this pic...

sigh... now i have to catch public transport...

mcflux · 23-05-2006, 03:17 PM

Speeeeeeewing...

EA2BA · 23-05-2006, 03:17 PM

wow, that sucks big time, i guess the lesson is, if something doesnt work 100% disconnect it.

RG · 23-05-2006, 03:21 PM

Ouch, now thats some really bad luck. I really feel for you having to watch your car get destroyed like that.

klawsterfobik · 23-05-2006, 03:28 PM

ohh crap.

looks like a really nice car too... would it be worth getting a rear ended one cheap and transferring it all over?

Kryton · 23-05-2006, 03:32 PM

wow that does suck. i would still contact the insurer just to see if they will cover it.
if not, the best bet would be to grab another fairlane and put all your good parts on it and sell the rest.
is the engine itself still ok?

Allen · 23-05-2006, 03:40 PM

At the moment im more inclined to just strip it, and sell off everything, and proberly just buy a I6 e series... although i'd love a ZA fairlane... but only time will tell whats going to happen.

The engine and trans are still fine, the fire was mostly contained to around the brake booster, its only things like the throttle position sensor and plastic bits like that. Although i cant start it, because all the wiring is gone, the mechanical parts still seem fine.

The Dok · 23-05-2006, 03:48 PM

This is a b1oody shame, but would have made a good project to restore.
The irony is, the very item installed to stop the vehicle being from pinched & probably destroyed, has in fact, done just that itself. Looked like such a nice example too, you sure it's not too late to restore it?

blackahcdx · 23-05-2006, 03:51 PM

WOAH!!

only time a car caiught on fire on me was when i was driving my mums EF falcon and decided to switch it to Gas and the system caught on fire and burnt all under the bonnet in a similar manner

EFFalcon · 23-05-2006, 03:54 PM

damn!
something so small can ruin so much.
your avatar has inspired me to one day modify an NC though!

ten[A]cio[U]s · 23-05-2006, 03:58 PM

Sorry to hear buddy...

I wish you all the best.

347_XR8 · 23-05-2006, 03:59 PM

Man that sucks.
Looked so nice and clean aswell :(

fiery · 23-05-2006, 03:59 PM

Wow.. really sorry to see such a beautiful car ruined....

Not much else to be said I guess but hope something sorts it self out for you soon...

Good luck

Allen · 23-05-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dok

you sure it's not too late to restore it?

Well, im pretty sure that the heat has substantially weakened the firewall, plus the cost of an entire new loom, and a replacement of all the damaged parts, could well blow out to a point were it would be cheaper for me to recoup my losses by selling bits and pieces off and just buying a new car...

Not to mention, that im a full time uni student, and was just managing to keep the tank full... (the tank was full when it went up... the petrols now in dads landau

) so the cost of repairing is far more than i could afford.

And I just simply dont feel the same about the car anymore, i wouldn't want to drive it again, knowing that this has happened.

On the plus side, my grandfather has a mate, that may be interested in a bare NC shell... so many years from now this car may hit the road once more...

Allen · 23-05-2006, 04:05 PM

here is bit of info on the cause... the alarm had 4 NiCad batteries in it, and apparently when NiCads get old, they explode... I found microchips from the alarm embedded in the hood lining, so I reckon this is the case

Tiga_EL · 23-05-2006, 04:16 PM

Damn. that must really suck.. I feel for ya man.. All the best with getting it sorted.. Hopefully ya can get a new car soon.

ED_Monty · 23-05-2006, 04:26 PM

I know I don't really know you but I just want to say that I am sorry for you, my cousin had the exact same thing happen to him in his XF Fairmont, although his alarm/Immobiliser was aftermarket it was still about 10yrs. old, and a couple of differences are that the alarm worked perfectly and it happened to him while he was driving! The damage done was approx. $3,500 worth. The worse thing was he just had a custom head installed($800+$350 labour) which wasn't covered by his insurance yet. He now has an EA Falcon Sedan to play around with. I would also like to apologize as I didn't get any pics. before he sent it off to the wreckers.

P.S. If you are wondering it had approx. 145rwkw that is with an AU block(Newest you could get when he had it installed), a custom head(As stated), a custom grind cam, plus all the internals were forged aluminum. The quickest he got down the quarter mile was 13.502 on slicks with a lot of weight removed from it by removing all the seats but the drivers, removing the spare tire, most of the interior panels and the carpet. Did I mention that his Fairmont was a station wagon!

**Professor Farnsworth** · 23-05-2006, 04:30 PM

Mate i'm sorry to hear that, looked like a beautiful car, wish you all the best with your next project.

Is the first pic taken at Greenvale Reservoir ? Not far from me.

Allen · 23-05-2006, 04:38 PM

To be honest, im suprised i haven't had a breakdown... this car was my favorite toy, i enjoyed spending money on it where i could... it has a 2 month old redback exhaust, K&N filter, autotechnia wheel... and id spent about $1000 on an in car computer (GPS, MP3, TV, DVD ect...) luckily i haven't finished the PC, so it wasn't in the car...

At the moment im just cheering my self up by looking at falcons on ebay... if i could find a EB - ED, with a crappy interior and a stuffed driveline, but a pristine body and suspension, i could transfer all the good ghia bits and v8 into it...

But for the time being, it looks like its buses and trains for me...

thanks for the sympathy guys, it helps

Allen · 23-05-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantz

Is the first pic taken at Greenvale Reservoir ?

Yeah, it was... the fairlane simply looked better with a nice background for taking pictures.

Im in craigieburn... this all happened 5 minutes from home at the local shopping centre... so i had to fork out $80 for a tilt tray for a 5 minute drive...

I actually work part time at this particular safeway... so to have my managers and co-workers watch my car burn wasn't exactly fun :P

but, thats life

The Dok · 23-05-2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairlane_ghia

Not to mention, that im a full time uni student, and was just managing to keep the tank full... (the tank was full when it went up... the petrols now in dads landau

) so the cost of repairing is far more than i could afford.
And I just simply dont feel the same about the car anymore, i wouldn't want to drive it again, knowing that this has happened.

Understood, I have an EF (my 2nd car) sitting in garage that suffered from an "under dash fire" just yesterday, once I repair it, it's outta here, not too keen on the smell either. Best of luck to you, hopefully something nice comes your way. :eclipsee_

FordFan86 · 23-05-2006, 05:13 PM

That really sucks mate :( and to such a nice car aswell.
Not long after your Birthday either (from profile), that sucks.
All the best with finding a replacement

vino3o2 · 23-05-2006, 05:21 PM

Man thats sucks!!! Lucky you or anyone else was'nt hurt in the process....It was such a nice Fairlane to, sad to see this happen to your car mate...at least you still have a positive outlook on the whole thing and your not letting it get you to down...me on the other hand would be crying for days!! Good luck with your next project

LUXO_8 · 23-05-2006, 05:46 PM

man that sucks hardcore..... what a shame to see such a clean example in that state, when there are falling apart NA and NC's still out on the street....

smashed V8 NC's go for stuff all on ebay (people buy them to fit the running gear into hotrods) perhaps you could find one with body damage, yo use the good bits to repair yours....

Allen · 23-05-2006, 05:57 PM

I think at the moment, it'll all get sold off... engine, trans, lsd diff, velour interior, electric windows, sports exhaust, sunroof, panels ect...
I can cash in whats left of the rego, about 5 months from memory and then i should have a decent tax return soon...

so i guess im starting from scratch... ive already searched ebay, and some EB and ED's are looking tempting...

so dont be suprised if you find a whole lot of NC ghia bits in the for sale forum... i'll post it all here before ebay
can anyone put a theoretical value to all the stuff mentioned above? just so i have an idea where i stand...

thanks guys

NC 5ltr · 23-05-2006, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairlane_ghia

here is bit of info on the cause... the alarm had 4 NiCad batteries in it, and apparently when NiCads get old, they explode... I found microchips from the alarm embedded in the hood lining, so I reckon this is the case

Mate thats an absolute shame to see such a pristine car ruined in those circumstances.hope your insurer has some sympathy.

Can you change these NiCad batteries as mine are about 14 years old so im sure they'd be classified as old and might be going

soon.

Allen · 23-05-2006, 06:19 PM

im not sure if you can change them... but i do know that it was supposed to have a fused link between the alarm and battery... mine didn't for some reason... but if it did, this proberly would not have happened.

all in all, the ford dealer just didn't install this alarm properly, it never worked right, and was missing the fuse... so that was the cause of these batteries going bang...
somehow i doubt ford will wanna know anything about it

Jet-Star · 23-05-2006, 07:17 PM

Im sorry to here what happend to your car man, it is a shame..

On the weekend a bloke was telling me a similar storey about his EA, it was fitted with a bretho thing & installed by an approved workshop and his burn't down in a car park due to a short... He couldn't do and they told him stiff so he had to fork out for another car... Its a pitty but these things do happen aye.

Dezza · 23-05-2006, 08:46 PM

Damn. That's no good. Sorry to see your car in such a state. Good luck in finding a suitable replacement.

Grechie · 23-05-2006, 08:50 PM

damn man, defently sucks, im very sorry to hear about this, and it would of been the worst feeling in the world watching it burn infront of you...

mine caught fire not that long back, but we were able to stop it b4 it did major damage, still enough to get me really annoyed/scared....

all the best with finding a new car, RIP NC Fairlane....

- Grechie