New Owner BIG Problem

[wacko]

Hello All,

So I had been looking for a 911 for about a year, looked at a few and finally bought a 1982 911sc last week, 177 000 miles. Paint was great, re-spray a few years ago. Previous owner pretty much only drove it on sunny days. Had a PPI done and got good report other than a slightly worn 1st gear syncro.

Came across a few minor issues to work out over the weekend, little trouble with drivers door handle, Flash to pass not working, passenger door window button works to put window up but not down (drivers door switch will put passenger window down and up).

Anyways, excited to have the new car and have been driving it the last few days even though the weather has been kind of lousy.

Today, my daughters wanted me to drop them off at school in our new Porsche, again weather pretty cold and rainy. Had the heater on, Rear defrost on, Fan running. Drop the kids off at school (a few blocks from my house) and start to smell a little smoke!!! Got worse PRETTY FAST. Made it back to my house with smoke billowing out of the engine compartment. Open it up to flames!!! Grab the hose and get it put out fairly quickly

Hard to tell how much damage was done. the inside of the engine compartment lid (trunk? Hood?) pretty black (burnt). Air cleaner a little melted. The paint around the engine compartment a little black, some of it rubs off haven't spent too much time on it yet.

I have an appointment with my insurance company in the morning. Just looking for advice on what might have caused it? How is the best to get it fixed right? I am in the Fraser Valley, BC. Anyone suggest the best place to get the repairs done in the Fraser Valley or Lower Mainland? (Mechanical and Paint)

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

[fbeatty]

That is terrible, wish I could offer some advice. Keep us posted. Good luck with everything.

[Josh D]

I'm guessing heater blower motor meltdown. You can backdate the heat and do away with the blower motor and a bunch of hoses, but that might not be acceptable way up north in BC.

[Trackrash]

Consider yourself lucky. It could have been MUCH worse. Good thing you got it out before the whole thing went up in flames.

My car caught fire many years ago. I was also very lucky, basically no real damage.

I replaced all my fuel lines with stainless and have carried a fire extinguisher ever since.

Good luck with your repairs.

[Beltdrive]

Wacko Sorry to hear of your trouble.There is a Porsche and VW swap meet happening Sunday Nov 4 10am 17670 65a Avenue Surrey BC.I'm thinking you will get some good advice from the people that really have good knowledge of our cars on who's good in the Fraser Valley.
Hoping for the best for our American friends at the Eastern Seaboard as the big storm Sandy passes through.You are in our thoughts.Gord

[wacko]

I know!! If I hadn't been so close to home I probably would have had to watch her burn. I will be carrying a fire extinguisher from now on.

[unclebilly]

ICBC will probably write it off.

[tirwin]

That is awful! Hope things work out for the best. And especially glad you and your daughters were not injured!

Buy a halotron type fire extinguisher. Old fuel lines plus higher ethanol content in modern fuel is not a good combination. That is one of the more common fire sources but it could be any number of things. There is a guy on the forum... his user name escapes me right now... I think his real name is Len. Anyway, he can make you up a set of new fuel lines with the right fittings that are designed for modern fuels.

You got a bum start but don't give up!

[LM3929]

Take and post pics of the damage on this post.

there will be lots of parts there at the swap meet as well as a few knowledgeable 911 owners

Lorne M.

[James Brown]

i think your fine, you can get plenty of heat without the fan. a little backdating will get even more heat. take the insurance cash and get some goodie, keep trucking!!

[gamin]

I have had the infamous leaking fuel hose on the 88. Luckily no fire. I carry 2 fire extinguishers.

[OsoMoore]

Is it possible you had a backfire light your air filter?
This serves as a reminder to me to put the fire extinguisher back in the car.

[Paulporsche]

Aside from the above, make sure you have no fuel line leaks, and check for oil leaking on heat exchangers.

Also did you or anyone spray something like WD40 on the engine or exhaust?

[wacko]

No WD40 lately. I am sure there is some small oil leaks but it was my understanding they all leak a little. My initial thought was the oil on heat exchanger but I am now thinking more electrical due to the fact that the previous owner rarely used the heater/Fan and because it was raining fairly heavy but I really am only guessing. I do not believe it to be a fuel line, I think that would have been a lot harder to put out.

I will post some pics when I get a chance.

[redstrosekNic]

Glad everyone's okay. Check the wiring to the blower motor to make sure it didn't rub through anywhere. As suggested, I would do a heater backdate.

[manbridge 74]

There should be a giant header about the importance of carrying a fire extinguisher at the top of the main page. Or just a picture of a burned 911 with "Got fire suppression?" underneath.

[wacko]

Here are some pics

[Hendog]

Wow, sorry to hear of this trouble to your "new to you" car. Kinda takes the fun out of it. At least you and your daughters are well; that's what's most important. Now there's a very knowledgeable guy who posts here on Pelican a lot. He's been immersed in Porsche cars all his life; got the bug from his dad. Races them, rebuilds them etc. He opened a shop in Langley in August, so he's in your neck of the woods. Check out Jeff Alton and his shop Here

Most anyone on this board would attest to Jeff's excellence and high standard of quality.

[timmy2]

Looks like your rear window defroster wires may have shorted out?

[john walker's workshop]

just fix it yourself and keep ICBC out of it. looks minor.