I lost it all....electrical fire high up in the dash - Page 6 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DeliveryValve · #76 01-06-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBNRA

And I'm suprised no one mentioned this..........

Actually babymog mentioned this on Post #30.

In any event, still a good idea to add on.

MBNRA · #77 01-06-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliveryValve

Actually babymog mentioned this on Post #30.

In any event, still a good idea to add on.

Thanks. Master Battery disconnects are available at Autozone and Napa.

cphilip · #78 01-06-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBNRA

Get yourself a master cutoff switch and install it on the + battery terminal between the terminal and the feed wire!!!! In an Emergency such as this, it is a lot easier to pop the hood and throw the switch and cut off ALL power to the entire vehicle! I think, IMO, you spent too much time trying to isolate the source of your electrical fire and with the power still on, your battery was feeding the monster you were trying to put out!

I actually carry a small pair of battery pliers under the hood next to the batterey with a hole drilled into the handle and bolted to the inner fender with a small chain! I love all my Benz's and you never know what can happen. A good fire extinguishwer would be one with "Purple K".

An inline 1 amp fuse in the AUX water pump circuit is a great idea too and an easy to install safety feature!

Sorry for your loss man! But the motor and tranny will be salvageable and still run if you extracted them! Worst case scenario: A few new gaskets!

This is a good idea if you do it BEFORE a fire. real good idea. However remember the fire had started, and the car was cut off and, in that state, there is no thinking that there might be a live unfused wire that could be or even should be disconnected. The car was turned off and the fire already erupting at this point in time. All this activity occurs in less than five minutes. If your not aware of whats feeding it, or that such a thing could even feed something un-fused with key off, your not going to spend all your time trying under the hood trying to take your battery cable off. If you had time you would... but there was and is little time. My attempts to put it out may have spanned a minute or so of that time... and it was probably too late to disconnect the battery because by that time the fire had found fuel. And was consuming that fuel.

But its all hind site. Sure you and I can debate all day which things I should have done. Given time I would have done all sorts of things that raced through my mind.

I doubt the motor and tranny are salvagable. Remember... it started up on its own and ran and then raced on its own until it died. It puked its guts out as it died. It probably ran hot I would imagine. If it had sat there and let the fire wash over it, it might have been fine. But it decided to crank up on its very own and run itself in a harmful situation. Nothing I could do about it. Standing 50 feet away with my keys in my pocket....

LUVMBDiesels · #79 01-06-2009, 03:49 PM

I am so sorry for your loss!

I had a fire in my 1967 GTO. The engine wiring caught fire on the way home from the garage that installed it! Luckiliy I had a dry chem extinguisher in the car. I was able to put out the fire and save the car with only minimal damage. Ever since then I have kept an extinguisher in all my cars.

I have a battery disconnect on the BMW. I put it on the (-) terminal.

I got this type. It is very easy to disconnect quickly

I am going to get one for the Diesel this week.

cphilip · #80 01-06-2009, 03:59 PM

That looks like just the ticket there!

Dee8go · #81 01-06-2009, 04:03 PM

Oh, I thought this was another stock market thread . . . .

LUVMBDiesels · #82 01-06-2009, 04:33 PM

I found the answer to our problems.

Install this on the battery and run a cable from the lever through the firewall and into the passenger cabin. I would have a loop of wire sticking down into the passenger foot well. A quick yank and the battery is cut out.

cphilip · #83 01-06-2009, 04:52 PM

Brilliant! Remote battery disconnect. Brilliant!

Should come with a tablet of Valium to control the panic that sets in when your car catches on fire.

Chad300tdt · #84 01-06-2009, 05:24 PM

I'm sorry for your loss too.

Thanks for discussing it here on the forum and causing the solutions offered to be created/shared. I'll make sure to implement these things in my w123s.

I hope insurance helps to remove the sting and doesn't add to your angst.

PatricdeBoer · #85 01-06-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

I found the answer to our problems.

Install this on the battery and run a cable from the lever through the firewall and into the passenger cabin. I would have a loop of wire sticking down into the passenger foot well. A quick yank and the battery is cut out.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=sum-830051

I'd be nice to run it through to the glove box.

engatwork · #86 01-06-2009, 05:37 PM

Sorry about your loss

.

JimFreeh · #87 01-06-2009, 05:44 PM

Gads, what a bummer.
Those are depressing pictures.
Makes me sick to my stomach.

Nice cars are still out there, and with some luck, you'll get a settlement that will cover the replacement.

Jim

MBNRA · #88 01-06-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cphilip

This is a good idea if you do it BEFORE a fire. real good idea. However remember the fire had started, and the car was cut off and, in that state, there is no thinking that there might be a live unfused wire that could be or even should be disconnected. The car was turned off and the fire already erupting at this point in time. All this activity occurs in less than five minutes. If your not aware of whats feeding it, or that such a thing could even feed something un-fused with key off, your not going to spend all your time trying under the hood trying to take your battery cable off. If you had time you would... but there was and is little time. My attempts to put it out may have spanned a minute or so of that time... and it was probably too late to disconnect the battery because by that time the fire had found fuel. And was consuming that fuel.

But its all hind site. Sure you and I can debate all day which things I should have done. Given time I would have done all sorts of things that raced through my mind.

I doubt the motor and tranny are salvagable. Remember... it started up on its own and ran and then raced on its own until it died. It puked its guts out as it died. It probably ran hot I would imagine. If it had sat there and let the fire wash over it, it might have been fine. But it decided to crank up on its very own and run itself in a harmful situation. Nothing I could do about it. Standing 50 feet away with my keys in my pocket....

Yeah, bummer. I read your post too fast I guess and the pictures just blew my mind! Sorry about your car! I put my battery terminals on without tightening them down so I could just yank one off if something like this happened. I never thought of the AUX water pump shorting out the circuit board for the comfort control starting a fire. I'm glad I put a fuse on mine, but it was because I thought if it took out the board, THAT would be an expensive part!

EEEEK! Never once thought about the whole car!

oldsinner111 · #89 01-06-2009, 07:15 PM

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Check him out.Not a hard drive from S.C..