914 Fire

[melody]

MY 914 CAUGHT ON FIRE LAST NIGHT . I HAVE QUESTION. I HAD MY CAR WORKED ON YESTERDAY THEY PUT IN NEW TIGGER POINTS IN TWO OF THE FUEL INJECTORS ONE HOUR LATER MY HUSBAND WAS GIVING OUR SON A RIDE AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHY DO YOU THINK IT HAPPENED

[kellzey]

I think your mechanic didn't connect something correctly.

[dc914guy]

I would tend to agree

[jamcleod]

old fuel lines sprung a leak

[BillySpaceman]

Sounds like your mechanic didn't reconnect:

A) Fuel lines
B) Fuel Injectors

How much damage?

[norustscott]

Sorry to here about the fire...

If the fire was in the engine bay, I would tend to agree that the work the mechanic "complete" had something to do with the fire. With that said, understand that old fuel lines do not like to be moved, bent crimped... and to replace a fuel injector you will have to "move" a fuel line or two. Now if only the trigger points where replaced then it would be unlikly that the mechanic played a role as the trigger points are in the base of the distributor and although technically part of the fuel system, do not come into direct fuel contact.

Bottom line. A mechanic worth going to would have inspected the lines and clamps replacing anything questionable and convinced you that it was $$$ well spent. The Mechanic could also have simply failed to tighten a clamp. whether the cause is a split line or a fuel line worked off the injector or fuel rail...givent he time interval between the work asnd the fire...I would be paying this guy a visit.

BTW, depending on the severity of the fire you may be ableto do some investigating...It would be real easy to spot a line loose from a fuel rail...

That would be my bet...

Let us know what you find...

[red-beard]

Everyone ok?

James

[efeinsmith]

Loooog ago, there was a recall on 914 fuel injectors due to the hose cracking where it attached to the fuel rails and leaked. Mine did exactly that and was spraying fuel all over the place (luckily I caught it in time). If the injectors were original, that may be what happened.

Eric

[jkeyzer]

I had probably been driving my car for a few weeks before I noticed that two of my fuel injectors were leaking. Not at the hose but actually at the body of the injectors themselves where plastic meets the metal part. This included a 500 mile drive from Sacramento to San Diego. I think what saved me was luck and that the leak stopped once the car warmed up.

[mike mueller]

I doubt it had anything to do with the mechanic,
the fuel lines (any of them inside the engine compartment) are under pressure and half the time are in need of replacement.

I had a fuel injector line burst on me, luckly I caught it in time before the fuel found the hot exhaust and burst into flames.


This will not be the last time we here of this tragic story since too many owners do not know the condition of thier fuel lines.

[9fourteen]

I say fuel lines if they are original. When I recently removed my engine as well as the fuel tank, the fuel lines literally crumbled in my hands as I pulled them out. I can't believe they hadn't burst already and I consider myself very lucky since I was driving the car only a fews months earlier.

[scg]

Yeah, fuel lines (I xth the motion), from the way Bruce describes the damage. Whoever did the work on the injector should've done a trial run in his shop to make sure it didn't leak. I wonder if he even gave any thought to the condition of the fuel lines? Of course, it could just be really bad luck all around....

Great that everyone got out okay! I hope your insurance covers your loss to your satisfaction.

[M. Hendrix]

I burned one.




M

[campbellcj]

An injector cracked one morning on my previous 914 and it scared the bejeezus out of me!

By some dumb luck, I popped the lid to look at something before I hit the road to drive to work (it was my daily driver at the time). There was gas spewing all over the engine compartment, and obviously dripping down below too (i.e. onto the soon-to-be-very-hot exhaust).

[Bruce Allert]

I've been listening to a little voice for a long time now. Prolly my gaurdian angel. She was there when I went out looking to buy a 914 and the first time I had a fuel leak. Pulled the teener outta the garage and heard "check the engine" so I poped the lid. Yup, gas sprinkling outta the injector line. It's happened 3 other times with gas leaks so far. Wished everybody was in tune with their little voice, then there'd be more teeners on the road & not so many roasted ones.
I went to look at it yesterday. Poor thing was so sad. Interior gone, paint bubbled & various parts mis-shapen'd. It was hot. So glad father & son got out ok. The father felt the backpad getting warm then saw smoke.......
bruce

[jamcleod]

how about that fire extinguisher in the factory tool kit?

[M. Hendrix]

I have an extinguisher mounted to the passenger edge of the tunnel in every 914 I have owned since #3... magnesium makes a sickening sound when it burns, that was a great looking car too..


M

[Will98D]

Where's the magnesium?? I thought the Typ 4 had an aluminum block, hence a big advantage over the Typ 1. Maybe the blower housing?

[Amark]

Originally posted by Will98D
Where's the magnesium?? I thought the Typ 4 had an aluminum block, hence a big advantage over the Typ 1. Maybe the blower housing?

And the transmission.

[boxstr]

Bruce Anybody I have met??
Craig C Laughlin CAMP 914