37 replies to this topic

[ToM 2012]

hi i have heard of minis setting on fire does this happen often? or is it very rare? i am doing a big trip soon and the engine will be costant running for hours so i want to make sure what ever it is that sets them i can do something now before the trip ready. i do have my exhaust downpipe powder coated and if i drive it now for a good run i can smell it every now and then and if i am at the lights i see steam/ smoke appearing from the bonnet? is it a good idea to get it off or will it just burn of eventually? thanks tom 

[Wakey-Dan]

Closest ive been was the sound deadening at the back of the engine bay dropping down onto manifold causing it to be ripped out rather sharpish at the side of the m1.

[1984mini25]

Yes a mini can catch fire and the most common causes I've come across have been poor/dodgy wiring and the battery cable under the car, either shorting on the exhaust or through the hole in the boot floor.

[ToM 2012]

i have just put some sound deadening in as i didnt have any and want to quiet it down abit 

[ToM 2012]

Yes a mini can catch fire and the most common causes I've come across have been poor/dodgy wiring and the battery cable under the car, either shorting on the exhaust or through the hole in the boot floor.

what can i do or put over the wires to stop this happening? 

[nev_payne]

A shredded wiring loom in contact with the petrol tank is a good one that not many people check, another one is a leaking petrol tank - so much so that 1 of the battery terminals was submerged in petrol.

[1984mini25]

 

Yes a mini can catch fire and the most common causes I've come across have been poor/dodgy wiring and the battery cable under the car, either shorting on the exhaust or through the hole in the boot floor.

what can i do or put over the wires to stop this happening? 

 

Just make sure were any wires, especially the battery cable in the boot pass through a sound rubber grommet to prevent them from rubbing through and shorting out or worse.

[ToM 2012]

A shredded wiring loom in contact with the petrol tank is a good one that not many people check, another one is a leaking petrol tank - so much so that 1 of the battery terminals was submerged in petrol.

wow! that would be bad!

[ToM 2012]

 

 

Yes a mini can catch fire and the most common causes I've come across have been poor/dodgy wiring and the battery cable under the car, either shorting on the exhaust or through the hole in the boot floor.

what can i do or put over the wires to stop this happening? 

 

Just make sure were any wires, especially the battery cable in the boot pass through a sound rubber grommet to prevent them from rubbing through and shorting out or worse.

 

o yeh i have the rubber gromets in place but i will double check cheers. 

[rally515]

Mainly electrical precations id take tom, have you got a fire extinguisher in your mini ? if not i advise you get one, better taking up a bit of room in the back than watching a 6k+ mini go up knowing you have no way of stopping it

[ToM 2012]

what about powdercoat on the exhaust down pipe will this be ok? 

[ToM 2012]

Mainly electrical precations id take tom, have you got a fire extinguisher in your mini ? if not i advise you get one, better taking up a bit of room in the back than watching a 6k+ mini go up knowing you have no way of stopping it

yeh i was going to buy one from halfords but they are only small i might asswell spit on it. 

[rally515]

what about powdercoat on the exhaust down pipe will this be ok? 

 

No haha strip it off and either leave it bare or get it chromed ;)

[alicetheauto]

I had a battery cable melt onto the exhaust, causing a massive, unfused short circuit. Boiled the battery before I could jump out the car and pull the lead off. 99% fires will be electric based. All these can be prevented by regular inspection of the loom in the important places (fuse box, rear lights where they get knocked in the boot, main battery cable). Also make sure the cover is over the battery in the boot!

[Dan]

  Covering the wires up will make a fire more likely, don't do that.  Just don't let the system fall into disrepair and don't put the wrong rating or type of fuse in anything.