ELECTRICAL FIRE. :(

[datsik707]

Drove for an hour or so then when I parked the car, and cut it off, after about 30 seconds I noticed smoke. then more smoke... then lots of smoke. Fire deep in the engine, smaller fire was able to put it out without water on the engine or anything. After towing it home and taking some s*** apart to see where exactly the fire was, turns out it was directly ontop of the alternator where the slits are exposing wires. What should my next steps be?

[ThisIsSparTTa]

Where slits are exposing wires? You mean the coils on the alternator? I don't understand what caught on fire. It sounds like your alternator may be toast...

If not, the alternator wiring harness will be fun but not impossible to do. It runs from about 4 connectors near the passenger head lights to the alternator and oil sending unit, then back to the transmission for its 3 connectors.

[datsik707]

Yes coils, and I don't know exactly what caught fire either. With removing some pieces I was able to look at where I saw the fire and it was at the top of the alternator, burn marks confirm, with no wires around it.

[twinturbozxtacy]

it possible the bearings were shot and got so hot it started a fire... i had a friend with a vw and the bearings on the alt went bad and caught fire. otherwise a short could have caused it, the power steering does tend to leak on the alternators of these cars. power-steering fluid is inflammable and with enough heat it will ignite.

[datsik707]

What's really confusing is the fire started after I turn off the car.

[t.mcginley.jr]

It's possible the air flowing through the engine bay while you were driving was actually preventing it from catching fire, then when you stopped... boom!

[datsik707]

That would be something, considering points of being stopped at a light for 60seconds or so with no smoke at all with engine running. I got stuck at a light for 2-3 minutes right before parking, no smoke, nothing. Only started a few after cutting it off. That's the really confusing part to me.