car fire

[keith steinke]

well here's a new one. I had my nsx for about 2 months but was drivig it for only the second time. it died at an intersection. I was able to start it but smelled something burning. I lifted the hood and saw smoke, I then ran into my building to get some water ( or fire extinguisher, which ever I could find first) and as I came running back out the car was literaly on fire. fortunately I was able to put the fire out Immediately, just as the fire department arrived! one of my tennants had called them. long storey short, i put it on a flat bed and brought it up the the dealer on the morning where eventualy they (the acura rep. and the dealer) covered half the costs. turns out the starter shorted out! the car is a '98 with 19k miles. has anybody ever heard of this happening before? I will say i was happy with the way i was treated by the dealer but not the rep. but since i didn't have an insurance binder on it yet I felt pretty fortunate that the car didn't burn up entirely!

1

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by keith steinke:
has anybody ever heard of this happening before?

No.

Originally posted by keith steinke:
i didn't have an insurance binder on it yet

I would never, never, never drive a car before arranging for insurance on it. NEVER. Owning it for two months without insuring it is just downright foolish. Unless you've got so much money that you really don't care if it's stolen or if you drive it and have an accident and someone sues you for a million dollars, in which case sure, go ahead.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 24 March 2003).]

 

[BostonNSX]

True... isnt insurance required in your state?

Originally posted by nsxtasy:
I would never, never, never drive a car before arranging for insurance on it. NEVER. Owning it for two months without insuring it is just downright foolish. Unless you've got so much money that you really don't care if it's stolen or if you drive it and have an accident and someone sues you for a million dollars, in which case sure, go ahead.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 24 March 2003).]

 

[ChrisK]

Sorry to hear about the fire. I hope it all works out in the end for you.

Like mentioned above, how did you get to register your car without insurance? I had to show proof of insurance before I could register my car and get my plates.

 

[MvM]

Where I live liability insurance is mandatory. Not being insured is a fellony and considering the damager a car can do to people not unlogical in my opinion. Certainly, with an expensive car like the NSX I would not want to drive around without full coverage, even if the car is an older model.
As far as car-fires are concerned, I never heard of them much but did see three cars burning along the side of the road in the last two years. Maybe the increasingly complicated electrical stuff inside our cars is causing more fires than before. I don't have any stats on that though.

 

[stevefromatl]

That's a terrible story. However, I can relate. My '94 caught on fire. It was from a car phone wire inside the dash. $11,000 and 2 months later I had my car back. Luckily insurance covered most of it.

 

[bayareansx1999]

Originally posted by stevefromatl:
That's a terrible story. However, I can relate. My '94 caught on fire. It was from a car phone wire inside the dash. $11,000 and 2 months later I had my car back. Luckily insurance covered most of it.

did they salvage the car? or just fixed the car?

 

[stevefromatl]

Originally posted by bayareansx1999:
did they salvage the car? or just fixed the car?

They fixed it. My whole dash was replaced. It didn't look like $11k in damage. I'd have to look at my records but I remember there was some piece under the dash that was really expensive.

 

[matteni]

Originally posted by stevefromatl:

I remember there was some piece under the dash that was really expensive.

Yes - an odometer reset to zero! j/k!

------------------
Nick M

91' Red/Black with Many Mods
99' Honda Odyssey with Many Kids

 

[stevefromatl]

Originally posted by matteni:
Yes - an odometer reset to zero! j/k!

Ouch, that was harsh. Actually, my odometer does only say 9,000 miles now. So I guess it has been turned back twice.

 

[Dan H]

First time I've heard of this before on an NSX. I've heard about alternator fires too from older Mustang 5.0's.

Anyways, sorry to hear what happened. Hope it is restored as good as new.

 

[mason@tirerack]

I'm curious why Acura would not pay for all of it..assuming your car was a totally stock car that has never been wrecked...that is a safety issue I would think. Am I wrong?

------------------
Mason
Tire Rack sales...contact me for all your wheel and tire needs.
1-800-428-8355
Ext. 619

1991 Acura NSX (auto)
2002 Honda S2000

 

[PHOEN$X]

What a shame, a 98 with only 19k miles no less!

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by mason@tirerack:
I'm curious why Acura would not pay for all of it..assuming your car was a totally stock car that has never been wrecked...that is a safety issue I would think. Am I wrong?

Well, the car is no longer under warranty. The specific safety systems that have longer warranties than the bumper-to-bumper 4 years / 50K miles are specified in the manual and are usually limited to things like seat belts, air bags, etc.

BTW, I knew that sooner or later, there would be an appropriate place to use the following smilie:

I'm just sorry it doesn't have a happier story behind it.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 24 March 2003).]

 

[madfast]

nsxtasy,
can you explain why the nsx is so prone to catching fires as oppose to other cars. why would this happen. I've heard of the engine fires, battery fires, and now starter and cell phone fires? could you pls elaborate on the issue? thanks!

 

[mason@tirerack]

Originally posted by nsxtasy:
Well, the car is no longer under warranty. The specific safety systems that have longer warranties than the bumper-to-bumper 4 years / 50K miles are specified in the manual and are usually limited to things like seat belts, air bags, etc.

BTW, I knew that sooner or later, there would be an appropriate place to use the following smilie:

I'm just sorry it doesn't have a happier story behind it.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 24 March 2003).]

That depends on when the car was purchased..if it was a car that was not sold until 1999 it would STILL be under the manufacturers warranty. Also, even if it was sold in 1998 and out of warranty, you would think that Acura and their customer service would be more inclined to help out an owner of a $89,000 sports car that catches fire with only 19,000 miles.

(By the way Ken...nice smiley. Where did you find that one?)



------------------
Mason
Tire Rack sales...contact me for all your wheel and tire needs.
1-800-428-8355
Ext. 619

1991 Acura NSX (auto)
2002 Honda S2000

 

[bayareansx1999]

Originally posted by mason@tirerack:

That depends on when the car was purchased..if it was a car that was not sold until 1999 it would STILL be under the manufacturers warranty. Also, even if it was sold in 1998 and out of warranty, you would think that Acura and their customer service would be more inclined to help out an owner of a $89,000 sports car that catches fire with only 19,000 miles.

(By the way Ken...nice smiley. Where did you find that one?)

there is always extended warranty

 

[mason@tirerack]

Originally posted by bayareansx1999:
there is always extended warranty

Very true.

------------------
Mason
Tire Rack sales...contact me for all your wheel and tire needs.
1-800-428-8355
Ext. 619

1991 Acura NSX (auto)
2002 Honda S2000

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by madfast:
can you explain why the nsx is so prone to catching fires as oppose to other cars.

It's not. We've only had, what, two? reports of NSX fires? This is not a common problem.

Originally posted by mason@tirerack:
even if it was sold in 1998 and out of warranty, you would think that Acura and their customer service would be more inclined to help out an owner of a $89,000 sports car that catches fire with only 19,000 miles.

It sounds like they did exactly that, paying for half the repair on a car that is out of warranty.

 

[Tony Montoya]

Last year an owner with 12k on a 91 went on vacation and somebody lit his carcover on fire. Total loss and no insurance.

In your case is the battery tie down in good shape or does it have any nicks in the coating. A short can develop there.

[This message has been edited by Tony Montoya (edited 25 March 2003).]

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by Tony Montoya:
Last year an owner with 12k on a 91 went on vacation and somebody lit his carcover on fire. Total loss and no insurance.

Another uninsured loss? I can't understand people who have no insurance. For heaven's sake, if you can't afford to suffer a total loss on your car, buy insurance!!!