Aaaargh !! From two Porsches to none in five short hours...

Wrecked944 · 10-28-2002, 08:14 PM

In the last five hours I've gone from having two porsches to having none. On the way home from work my (normally robust) 944 stopped charging its battery. So it slowly drained itself dead. That was okay because it drove for a good hour before dying about two miles from my house. So I figured, "No problem. I have TWO cars." So I took a cab home and pulled the 911 out to jump start the 944. Smooth as silk. But after I started up the 944, my precious 911 CAUGHT FIRE. Big old nasty electrical fire. Smoke poured out of the back end and the underside was bright with yellow flames. Thank goodness I had a fire extinguisher on hand so I was able to extinguish it quickly. It seems the 22 year old engine wiring harness in the 911 finally gave up the ghost and ignited. So now I gotta call my insurance company to see if they will cover it. I've never made a claim for anything like this before and I am pretty clueless. No cops or fire trucks were called or required. Should I call the police? Make a report of some kind? Meanwhile, I got the 944 jumped and babied it home where it promptly stumbled and died again. It still won't charge its battery..So now my cars are both suddenly toasted (one, literally). Perhaps an opportune moment to pull the engine out of the 911 and fix the head studs?

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

well, since bad things come in threes, perhaps you're best off renting a Hyundai for awhile.

Man, when it rains it pours.

JDaniel · JDaniel's Garage

It could be the 911 fire was caused by the idignity of using it to "jump" start a 944.

Adam · Adam's Garage

Jesus, that's bad news!

I feel for you, man. That's horrible!

MrKJBlue · MrKJBlue's Garage

Quote:

Perhaps an opportune moment to pull the engine out of the 911 and fix the head studs?

Now thats the right attitude to have, if that had happened to me I think i'd be in tears.
cant see any reason to tell the police, phone insurance company now and they will soon tell you what to do, but dont start on them head studs till their assesors had a look!!

makaio · 10-29-2002, 06:55 AM

Janus,

That $ucks! I feel for you

.

Your insurance should cover it no problem, as long as you have full coverage. But if you ever have another fire( which I hope not, because I don't like to see people have fires), even if you extinguish it, call the FD. They will do a fire report, much like a police report. Insurance companies like to have these because it makes their job easier. But they should still cover it.

Good Luck

!

Wrecked944 · 09:51 AM

Accidentally posted the same message twice so I deleted the first one...

Wrecked944 · 10-29-2002, 09:50 AM

Thanks very much for the support and advice. On your suggestions I called the local fire department and found that they have a specific form for me to fill out for my insurance agancy. The insurance company said I am covered for fire so the car is now being towed to AutoSport in Stowe, MA where I expect she will be taken good care of. I think I got the fire extinguished in time to save the engine. And I gotta say, those fire extinguishers for racing are AMAZING. It took one shot to kill the whole fire. Almost certainly saved thecar. And yes, Nostatic, I got a compact rental car and opted for the super-duper insurance that allows me to destroy the vehicle with impunity. Not that I would...but it's nice to know I could...

Lee · Lee's Garage

I hate to read that your 911 caught fire.

And I hate to use the occasion to ask, but it does bring the question to mind...If a 911 is old, say a 1978 model, and needs a rebuild, should the wiring harness be replaced, purely as maintenance/preventative? If so, where are they found, and what should they cost?

I hope your day gets better.

Dan Crockett

singpilot · 10-29-2002, 10:50 AM

Not one week ago, I used the 944 to jump the 911.

Never again!

Sorry to hear about your loss. I, too, have a halon fire extinguisher in every car. In the cabin in the 911.

I may stop shaking in a week or so after reading your story.

Michael Krebs
'80 911SC
'83 944
'85 380SL
'87 420SEL

Bill Douglas · 10-29-2002, 10:59 AM

OMG, what bad luck.

The fire sure was bad, but isn't it amazing that a fire like that would break the head studs - intense heat I guess. Never mind the insurance company can sort that out for you also. I wonder if the heat affected the cams, and I've heard the only ones available these days are 20/21 cams.

Wrecked944 · 10-29-2002, 11:33 AM

"If a 911 is old, say a 1978 model, and needs a rebuild, should the wiring harness be replaced, purely as maintenance/preventative?"

It is an excellent question. I have always distrusted the skinny little wires they used in my 911. I was fantasizing about replacing the whole electrical system with heavier gauge wires (i.e. better than OEM) when I fixed the head studs. True, it may add weight...but in my present mood it seems worth it...

"The fire sure was bad, but isn't it amazing that a fire like that would break the head studs - intense heat I guess."

Thanks a zillion. That was the first time I laughed in like 16 hours...

Jeez, I think the fire also completely burned away those two turbos and left no trace what-so-ever...probably burned off some suspension upgrades and a Ruf body kit as well...