any ideas of what caused this fire?
03-23-2012, 09:09 AM
#21
The OP knows whether or not my hypothesis about that is correct. I'll let him answer that if he choses. But I'm not going to argue it. It's full of gasoline at all times, and if it were involved in starting the fire it wouldn't have survived intact...PERIOD...END OF STORY!!! Snowball's chance in...
On the fuel pressure matter, you're so wrong I don't know where to begin. So read for yourself on page 3.
http://autoshop101.com/forms/h22.pdf
Then, if you still don't believe me, go out, pop the hood, and pull that hose on your 3VZ-E without starting it, or better yet without even putting the key in the ignition. Then you explain to me where all that gasoline came from.
http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...89fuelpres.pdf
On the fuel pressure matter, you're so wrong I don't know where to begin. So read for yourself on page 3.
http://autoshop101.com/forms/h22.pdf
Then, if you still don't believe me, go out, pop the hood, and pull that hose on your 3VZ-E without starting it, or better yet without even putting the key in the ignition. Then you explain to me where all that gasoline came from.
6. DISCONNECT FUEL RETURN HOSE
(a) Place a suitable container or shop towel under the fuel
pressure regulator.
(b) Disconnect the fuel return hose from the fuel pressure
regulator.
(a) Place a suitable container or shop towel under the fuel
pressure regulator.
(b) Disconnect the fuel return hose from the fuel pressure
regulator.
Last edited by MudHippy; 03-23-2012 at 09:35 AM.
03-23-2012, 09:37 AM
#22
Registered User
Yup that regulator might shut off ( I don't know that for sure ) but even if it does the regulator does not shut fuel pressure off to the fuel rail. Not one bit. It shuts off the fuel return line and that's it.
With that said I'm with MudHippy on this one, but for a different reason. Even if that line had a pin hole in it, there is nothing in that front section of the motor that will get hot enough to ignite a stream of fuel.
The only fuel fires I have ever seen in an engine bay were due to fuel hitting an exhaust component. Why? Because fuel itself is VERY hard to ignite. And nothing around that side's header is charred or melted one bit.
With that said I'm with MudHippy on this one, but for a different reason. Even if that line had a pin hole in it, there is nothing in that front section of the motor that will get hot enough to ignite a stream of fuel.
The only fuel fires I have ever seen in an engine bay were due to fuel hitting an exhaust component. Why? Because fuel itself is VERY hard to ignite. And nothing around that side's header is charred or melted one bit.
Last edited by xxxtreme22r; 03-23-2012 at 09:40 AM.
03-23-2012, 12:20 PM
#24
YotaTech Milestone-Two Millionth Post
My Guess:
electrical is the cause.
distributor area is the source.
doubt highly that gas is involved.
"mightymouse" had a fuel fed fire....much worse.
electrical is the cause.
distributor area is the source.
doubt highly that gas is involved.
"mightymouse" had a fuel fed fire....much worse.
Last edited by 92 TOY; 03-23-2012 at 12:22 PM.
03-23-2012, 05:41 PM
#26
So the distributor is to blame for this?
For one, I have never heard of a distributor cap spontaneously combusting, there would have to be another accelerant then plastic, plastic would usually be smoldering and melt for a long while before bursting into flames, and all the while it is smoldering it would be smoking and that truck would be bucking like crazy with misfires. The fire wouldn't actually be able to start inside the distributor as there is going to be a lack of sufficient oxygen, it is not air tight but neither is the lid your mom puts over her candles to put the flame out. It would be the same story, the flame for the candle has a fuel to burn with the candle wick but quickly burns up the supplied oxygen in the jar before going out.
The only way I can see a fire happening in the distributor is if there was something like fresh WD-40 or oil in there. The short would have to occur as the truck was running and then I would hope he would see the smoke coming out from under the hood.
Yes the same could be said for the fuel leak also that he should smell it first and that it should have been spraying more when driving as the line had pressure in it then, we may never find out what really happened but on this we will have to agree to disagree because I see the fuel pressure hose as a much greater possibility then a plastic cap becoming an inferno within 5-10 minutes with no drivability issues prior.
I have seen a car with a loose fuel hose catch fire and the fire department did not have to be called, it isn't as bad as you would think.
For one, I have never heard of a distributor cap spontaneously combusting, there would have to be another accelerant then plastic, plastic would usually be smoldering and melt for a long while before bursting into flames, and all the while it is smoldering it would be smoking and that truck would be bucking like crazy with misfires. The fire wouldn't actually be able to start inside the distributor as there is going to be a lack of sufficient oxygen, it is not air tight but neither is the lid your mom puts over her candles to put the flame out. It would be the same story, the flame for the candle has a fuel to burn with the candle wick but quickly burns up the supplied oxygen in the jar before going out.
The only way I can see a fire happening in the distributor is if there was something like fresh WD-40 or oil in there. The short would have to occur as the truck was running and then I would hope he would see the smoke coming out from under the hood.
Yes the same could be said for the fuel leak also that he should smell it first and that it should have been spraying more when driving as the line had pressure in it then, we may never find out what really happened but on this we will have to agree to disagree because I see the fuel pressure hose as a much greater possibility then a plastic cap becoming an inferno within 5-10 minutes with no drivability issues prior.
I have seen a car with a loose fuel hose catch fire and the fire department did not have to be called, it isn't as bad as you would think.
03-23-2012, 08:46 PM
#28
So the distributor is to blame for this?
For one, I have never heard of a distributor cap spontaneously combusting, there would have to be another accelerant then plastic, plastic would usually be smoldering and melt for a long while before bursting into flames, and all the while it is smoldering it would be smoking and that truck would be bucking like crazy with misfires. The fire wouldn't actually be able to start inside the distributor as there is going to be a lack of sufficient oxygen, it is not air tight but neither is the lid your mom puts over her candles to put the flame out. It would be the same story, the flame for the candle has a fuel to burn with the candle wick but quickly burns up the supplied oxygen in the jar before going out.
The only way I can see a fire happening in the distributor is if there was something like fresh WD-40 or oil in there. The short would have to occur as the truck was running and then I would hope he would see the smoke coming out from under the hood.
Yes the same could be said for the fuel leak also that he should smell it first and that it should have been spraying more when driving as the line had pressure in it then, we may never find out what really happened but on this we will have to agree to disagree because I see the fuel pressure hose as a much greater possibility then a plastic cap becoming an inferno within 5-10 minutes with no drivability issues prior.
I have seen a car with a loose fuel hose catch fire and the fire department did not have to be called, it isn't as bad as you would think.
For one, I have never heard of a distributor cap spontaneously combusting, there would have to be another accelerant then plastic, plastic would usually be smoldering and melt for a long while before bursting into flames, and all the while it is smoldering it would be smoking and that truck would be bucking like crazy with misfires. The fire wouldn't actually be able to start inside the distributor as there is going to be a lack of sufficient oxygen, it is not air tight but neither is the lid your mom puts over her candles to put the flame out. It would be the same story, the flame for the candle has a fuel to burn with the candle wick but quickly burns up the supplied oxygen in the jar before going out.
The only way I can see a fire happening in the distributor is if there was something like fresh WD-40 or oil in there. The short would have to occur as the truck was running and then I would hope he would see the smoke coming out from under the hood.
Yes the same could be said for the fuel leak also that he should smell it first and that it should have been spraying more when driving as the line had pressure in it then, we may never find out what really happened but on this we will have to agree to disagree because I see the fuel pressure hose as a much greater possibility then a plastic cap becoming an inferno within 5-10 minutes with no drivability issues prior.
I have seen a car with a loose fuel hose catch fire and the fire department did not have to be called, it isn't as bad as you would think.
Has this runner been signed off to insurance ? or are you keeping it op?
03-23-2012, 10:17 PM
#29
Registered User
Thread Starter
i have kept the 4runner and it is all repaired in my garage, i have ran it for about an hr now in my driveway to make sure it wont start fire again, the insurance company totaled it out and i bought it back, was payed over 4000.00 after fighting with them and only have spent 200 on parts not replacing the hood yet and now looking at tires to put on it, the buy back was only about 650.00 so now i have bought this thing twice and for a total of 1150.00..... 500 the first time and 650 this time. haha and i think i have made out good so far...
How in the heck did even half that only cost $200 let alone enough to get it running? do tell your secrets.
03-24-2012, 07:37 AM
#31
Registered User
Thread Starter
ok here is the brake down....
air box with tube and elbow craigslist 30.00
new braring for my burned up dist.online company14.00
wire connection for dist to wire harness 1.95
distibutor craigslist 35.00
oil cap pick n pull 7.00
distibutor cap autozone 11.99
dist rotor autozone 5.99
wire set autozone with 20.00 discount 8.99
front engine cover pick n pull 10.99
elbo and hose for upper intake hose pick n pull 6.24
1ft of hose for lower small hose on intake autozone 1.29
box or heat shrink and connections 24.55
for a total ..................................... 157.99
now if u add the rims i picked up and radiator thats another 175. total.
air box with tube and elbow craigslist 30.00
new braring for my burned up dist.online company14.00
wire connection for dist to wire harness 1.95
distibutor craigslist 35.00
oil cap pick n pull 7.00
distibutor cap autozone 11.99
dist rotor autozone 5.99
wire set autozone with 20.00 discount 8.99
front engine cover pick n pull 10.99
elbo and hose for upper intake hose pick n pull 6.24
1ft of hose for lower small hose on intake autozone 1.29
box or heat shrink and connections 24.55
for a total ..................................... 157.99
now if u add the rims i picked up and radiator thats another 175. total.
