My Toyota Prius 2010 caught fire

Heh, have you followed how much of a price breakthrough the FLIR One already is? It's a tenth of their entry level from just a few years ago. (And to the best of my knowledge, it's actually not "joke" quality.)

-Chap

 

We travel with a Halon-type fire extinguisher in case the "car bomb" explodes and a Canadian bear-sized can of pepper spray in case the "human bomb" explodes. Not sure which is more likely.

 

I suspect squirrels. After finding evidence that chipmunks had been in my glovebox, I wouldn't be surprised if they chewed through something they shouldn't or built a nest on the catalytic converter.

 

good point, i don't think that has been brought up. vermin!

 

From Fisker Karma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Fire incidents[edit]

A Fisker Karma was involved in a home fire that also burned two other cars in Fort Bend County, Texas in May 2012. The chief fire investigator said the Karma was the origin of the fire that spread to the house, but the exact cause is still unknown. The plug-in electric car was not plugged in at the time the fire started and it was reported that the Karma's battery was intact. The carmaker released a public statement saying that there was uncertainty and conflicting reports surrounding the event. Fisker Automotive also stated that the battery pack "does not appear to have been a contributing factor in this incident."[73] The NHTSA is conducting a field inquiry of the incident, and is working with insurance adjusters and Fisker to determine the fire's cause.[74]

A second fire incident took place in August 2012 when a Karma caught fire while stopped at a parking lot in Woodside, California.[75][76] According to Fisker engineers, the area of origin for the fire was determined to be outside the engine compartment, as the fire was located at the driver's side front corner of the car. The evidence suggested that the ignition source was not the lithium-ion battery pack, new technology components or unique exhaust routing.[77] The investigation conducted by Fisker engineers and an independent fire expert concluded that the cause of the fire was a low temperature cooling fan located at the left front of the Karma, forward of the wheel. An internal fault caused the fan to fail, overheat and started a slow-burning fire. Fisker announced a recall to repair the faulty cooling fan unit.[67][78]

In separate incidents during the storm and flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy on the night of 29 October 2012, 16 Karmas and one Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid caught fire while parked atPort Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal. The vehicles were partially submerged by flash floods caused by the hurricane. Initially, a Fisker Automotive spokesman said the company "can't be certain exactly what happened at the port" but "we think being submerged in 13 feet of saltwater had something to do with it". The carmaker clarified that the Karmas were not charging at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. In the case of the Toyota's incident, a Prius PHV burned and two other Prius, a conventional hybrid and a plug-in, just smoldered. A Toyota spokeswoman said the fire "likely started because saltwater got into the electrical system". She also clarified that the incident affected only three cars out of the 4,000 Toyotas that were at the terminal during the storm, including more than 2,128 plug-in or hybrid models.[48][79] After an investigation by Fisker engineers, witnessed by NHTSA representatives, the company said that the origin of the fire was "residual salt damage inside a Vehicle Control Unit submerged in seawater for several hours. Corrosion from the salt caused a short circuit in the unit, which led to a fire when the Karma's 12-Volt battery fed power into the circuit". The company explained that Sandy's heavy winds spread that fire to other Karmas parked nearby, and also ruled out the vehicles' lithium-ion battery packs as a cause of, or even a contributing factor to, the blaze.[80] Fisker reported a loss of around 330 additional Karmas when an entire shipment from Europe was flooded in the port terminal, with an estimated value of the flood loss is in excess of US$30 million.[49]

 

what would constitute 'exhaust routing' on an f/k?

 

I'd be curious to see a picture of the back of the vehicle.

Nah, very unlikely, especially in a city.

I'd be curious on a blocked egr, low oil, thick cheapo oil, modifications to emission control, service history, service history and service history.

Might be blocked up drainage ducts with dried leaves and a discarded fag end.

 

Thank you Jim! This is what I remember too. This is why I say I have concern about some of the used 2012 PiP's maybe being in Sandy.

Couple of facts I heard on the radio over Xmas travels:
(1) Squirrels are the No.3 cause of utility electrical interruptions (re: rates and mice)
(2) FORD has a recent headlamp recall for (EDIT) faulty solder joint that can crack and cause loss of power to the lights

Beware the squirrel
Wonder why the power is out? Utilities may point to the ‘squirrel index’ | Centre Daily Times\

Santa's list of issues (includes Toyota recall for power window electric/potential fire issue)
Santa's Top Ten Naughty List for the Automotive World - Carponents

 

So out of a garage the tree rats feast on your delicious wires. In the garage it will burn your house down. Decisions???????I vote for a detached garage.

Dade county required a fire wall between the garage and living areas.

 

More than one manufacturer has recommended parking their vehicles away from structures so if they catch fire they don't burn down the house.

Don't the alligators & snakes take care of the rodents?

 

Most houses in Virginia have black snakes, as shall we say, "house pets". Snakes are unfortunately over-rated as rodent eaters. The eat like one a month.

 

They might eat only once a month but the ones they do eat are the dumb ones. They are probably a better deterrent than a predator.

 

vermin, varmints & vittles.

 

What in the world??

 

Smoke detector in garage is starting to sound like a good idea. If it could made audible in the house.

 

There are smoke detectors that are meant to be mounted in a basement or garage that link wirelessly or hardwired with one in the house. When one goes off, so does the other.

SCH-I535 ?

 

I am thinking about putting a loud speaker in the grarage from an old burgular/fire alarm system I have laying around. Need a use for it anyways.

 

after 10 years, i'll just start playing the lottery, better odds.

 

i smell BS here. every prius fire picture i saw (remember at least 4) the fire started in right front corner.

i may need to consider parking prius outside the garage.

how do you know?

just look at the pictures.

maybe they burn more when they get older?

news to me, good to know.

i have one already. installed after first hearing about prius fires. may save lifes, but probably not home.

 

that's why i said probably.