Flames on an Elise

tut · Post by **tut** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:28 am

Good old CAT and misfire.

A few have gone that way over the years.

tut

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:29 am

<monty>
A mere flesh wound.
</monty>

I am amazed the fire brigade got there quickly enough to put it out ...

Cheers,
Robin

Novice Racer · Post by **Novice Racer** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:07 pm

tut wrote:Good old CAT and misfire.

A few have gone that way over the years.

tut

Can you chaps explain this to me?

How would he have known that he had a misfire problem? I take the MIL light would be flashing every time he started the car (ie stop driving and contact dealer, according to the manual), but he drove it anyway? Would a misfire problem have been obvious when the engine was running? Also, why is it that the cat catches fire?

It is just hard to understand how modern cars could just catch fire after being started/driven and not in an accident (eg fuel or oil leak after crashing).

Even when misfires happen, one would assume that occupant death might be a reasonable incentive to build in some sort of safety feature to prevent the car catching fire so easily.

NR

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:35 pm

Novice Racer wrote:
tut wrote:Good old CAT and misfire.

A few have gone that way over the years.

tut
Can you chaps explain this to me?

How would he have known that he had a misfire problem?

Car would be running rough as hell, I'd say you'd definately notice. The only thing would be not clicking that it could set your cat on fire.

Group buy on fire extinguishers?

tuscan_thunder · Post by **tuscan_thunder** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:43 pm

The_Rossatron wrote:
Novice Racer wrote:
tut wrote:Good old CAT and misfire.

A few have gone that way over the years.

tut
Can you chaps explain this to me?

How would he have known that he had a misfire problem?
Car would be running rough as hell, I'd say you'd definately notice. The only thing would be not clicking that it could set your cat on fire.

Group buy on fire extinguishers?

I have a slinky silver/alloy style one for oil fires etc. Got it in Tesco. 12quid. Canna say fairer than that.

Scotty C · Post by **Scotty C** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:54 pm

That is a Millenium special 111s. same as my old car. Any pictures with the reg plate???

Look close at pic 2, do you think the owner had a go with the watering can?

Post by **simon** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:00 pm

The_Rossatron wrote:Group buy on fire extinguishers?

You wouldn't stand a chance unless you had a plumbed in system and you won't even know whether it'll work until you need it. See Tut's old car as an example

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:06 pm

simon wrote:
The_Rossatron wrote:Group buy on fire extinguishers?
You wouldn't stand a chance unless you had a plumbed in system and you won't even know whether it'll work until you need it. See Tut's old car as an example

Might not save your car, but you could well prevent a few third degree burns!

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 5:33 pm

robin wrote:<monty>
A mere flesh wound.
</monty>

Cheers,
Robin

A new clam shell, pump up the tyres & she'll be fine

Post by **simon** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:40 pm

The_Rossatron wrote:Might not save your car, but you could well prevent a few third degree burns!

I doubt it. I'd be more concerned about getting the fcuk out of the car than scrabbling about trying to find a fire extinguisher. If your car goes on fire, you have insurance to cover it so why bother risking your life trying to save it?

tut · Post by **tut** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:27 pm

The cars that have gone up in flames, and a missfire/CAT has thought to have been the cause, have been faily highly tuned S1's.

This was the main reason that I took my CAT off my K engine, plus the weight of the thing and the fact that they cost a fortune in the early days and were not expected to last beyond four years.

tut

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:52 pm

Makes sense carrying an extingusher though. Is it not law in some european countries ?

Aldis £6.99 will be joining my "style" Flame beater one, if I had had either when the last engine went it would have been a lot safer using them thant fanning

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:44 am

Is that all a S1's worth these days?

(Cue also emmissions gags.)

Thats horrible though.

The thought of a fire extinguisher briefly crossed my mind the other day-

As I sat in my plastic car.

Against 30 litres of liquid explosive.

Marlboro in hand...

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:09 am

simon wrote:
The_Rossatron wrote:Might not save your car, but you could well prevent a few third degree burns!
I doubt it. I'd be more concerned about getting the fcuk out of the car than scrabbling about trying to find a fire extinguisher. If your car goes on fire, you have insurance to cover it so why bother risking your life trying to save it?

Upside down in a ditch?

Anyone ever see that Lambo thread on Pistonheads? It was grim!!!!

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:31 am

The problem with most (all?) small fire extinguishers is they only last 10 secs or so of spraying. Bearly enough to put out a tiny fire, if you catch it quick enough. They also loose their pressure over the years, so older extinguisers will be next to useless. The plumbed in motorsport extinquisers have a much larger capacity than the small hand held ones. Only problem is that you have no control over where they are firing, although they are set up to get the most likely problem areas. Also safer to use, as you simply flick a switch and run! IMHO....