INTAKE Assisted FIRE??

[GreyZone]

Ok guys here's the latest.....The projectors are not the cause of the fire nor nothing electrical. The issue is mechanical and is kinda scary. There may be an issue with a fuel leak either within the fuel line or from the fuel injector. The fumes from this leak possibly can cause a back fire if the fumes get to and reach the cone filters from an aftermarket intake....(injen, fujita, k & n, ect) I hope this is not the case and what happened, and if it is, I would recommend you all to go back to the stock intake systems. I will keep you all up to date once I get more new news.

Okay, so based on the above statement I'm starting a new thread on this issue.

domdada, who told you this? Where did you learn/hear about this?

Anyone else heard about this??

How about other's with a WAI. You smelling any raw gas fumes that you didnt notice with the factory air box??

If gas has the ability to "back up" into the cone of the WAI, then I could see how it could ignite, and well, that definitely could be a problem, and the cause of domdada's most unfortunate fire (by the way, side note, the insurance company should cover it regardless of cause, even if owner casued through neglect, mods or other mishap, that's what insurance is for...it even (thankfully) covers our own stupidity and carelessness...not that I'm saying any of us are ever careless or stupid, mind you...no, no...far be the thought...).

[08altima35]

that really sucks and it's sad to look at. When did this happen? While driving down the road, while at an idle? seems to me either short ram intake or stock air box if fuel is leaking and it ignites you'll have a problem.

[mikegtr06]

i just got back from the stealership and i saw a 3.5 sedan that that had caught fire. the front looked the same....

[chow]

Uhh, I dont know if its true for people in the States but I'm 100% sure my insurance company WOULD NOT cover me in the case that had happened. They would blame it on after market mods that were not "reported" or allowed. IE if i didnt have the intake the car would never have caughten on fire like that.

[skiski329]

what aftermarket electronics did you have in the car? ie subs, hid's, led's

[HuyyNguyen]

waaa!?!? i just ordered my fujita intake 2 days ago =(

[Rob.Vegan]

waaa!?!? i just ordered my fujita intake 2 days ago =(

I'm sure that it was very plausible his aftermarket intake whichever it was, could be the cause.

But we haven't heard any response to what actually happened, there are tons of possibilities to what could have caught this car on fire.

I've seen a car go up in flames in the parking lot of a burger king before, cars just explode sometimes

[CaLiLaTiN]

OH MAN..THAT IS A HORRIBLE PICTURE. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. SCARY TO THINK ABOUT. I INSTALLED A INJEN INTAKE LIKE A MONTH AGO.

Modified by CaLiLaTiN at 1:14 AM 1/18/2009
Modified by CaLiLaTiN at 1:15 AM 1/18/2009

[Kango]

holy cow.... and I just installed injen like 2 weeks ago and getting RS-1000 installed next week~

[CoutureCoupe]

This is a truly terrifying image. I have noticed a slight burning smell, coming from under the hood, post K&N intake install. I thought that was typical to have with this type of thing. If someone could please shed some light.

And yes, I believe an insurance company would try to rescind on your policy if you installed something that backfired like this.

I'm scared

[brandonbeeb]

Guys Dom posted in another thread he said the reason for the fire was mechanical not electrical related to led, hids, subs or car electronics. It was believed to be a fuel leak which i have heard a couple of 3.5 having now. i know 2 people locally who are finding there to be a fuel smell around the engine. i have noticed this occasionally, wondering if and when nissan will step up considering they had engine fires in the 06 and 07 models. Doms response was quoted at the top but here it is again.

Ok guys here's the latest.....The projectors are not the cause of the fire nor nothing electrical. The issue is mechanical and is kinda scary. There may be an issue with a fuel leak either within the fuel line or from the fuel injector. The fumes from this leak possibly can cause a back fire if the fumes get to and reach the cone filters from an aftermarket intake....(injen, fujita, k & n, ect) I hope this is not the case and what happened, and if it is, I would recommend you all to go back to the stock intake systems. I will keep you all up to date once I get more new news.

[dangeris]

Yeah..I'm definitely going to call the dealership on Monday and let them know that I've occasionally smelled raw gas smell around the engine compartment as well as the CVT not shifting into manual mode.

[mcheddadi]

I'm taking my chance on this one, I'm keeping my intake lol, sounds too good and give too much gains in this -35 weather haha lol

[Ferguson]

Me too. If there is a fuel leak issue, it is not the intake that is to blame for the fire.

[dangeris]

Me too. If there is a fuel leak issue, it is not the intake that is to blame for the fire.

Agreed but didn't someone here said that maybe the fumes from the fuel leak was sucked back into the CAI thereby creating the fire?

[skiski329]

yea not worth the risk for me. and my next upgrade is going to be a car fire extinguisher. (did you know that in most parts of europe it is required by law to have one in the car)

[Ferguson]

Agreed but didn't someone here said that maybe the fumes from the fuel leak was sucked back into the CAI thereby creating the fire?

That should still not cause a fire. Backfiring through the intake is a rare event in an FI engine like this. Hot exhaust manifolds, or other direct heat sources or spark sources, are more suspect in such a case. Drawing fuel vapours through the intake still requires ignition, which doesn't occur until after the throttle body.

Regardless of what ignites the fuel/fumes, there shouldn't BE any fuel/fumes in the engine compartment to begin with. The leak is the source of the fire, not the item that ignited it.

[GreyZone]

wondering if and when nissan will step up considering they had engine fires in the 06 and 07 models.

What did they determine to be the cause of those fires? Surely that's got to be known by now.

ALso, I am installing my Injen next weekend, Im not freaked out over it spontaneously causing a fire...but I will not allow the car to run unattended for several minutes at idle just to be on the safe side...I can see fumes backing up, but if raw liquid gas is "backing up" there would be some other serious mechanical problem(s)...

ANd again, most insurance companies HAVE TO cover you, unless your policy SPECIFICALLY STATES whats NOT COVERED, you're covered. IE, they even have to cover you while you're comitting a crime (drunk driving accident)...they may cancel you AFTER THE FACT, but they still have to pay (again, unless they spell out under "policy exclusions" what will NOT be covered).

THink about it...if they still cover you after you knowingly broke the law and drove (drunk driving) how are they going to not cover you for putting some aftermarket mod on you car that might cause a problem? I mean really, they're are not going to do that, "Oh, you can drink and drive and you're covered, but you put that aftermarket intake on your car and you're shi** outta luck!"

THey might not cover a certain item to be replaced (like a sound system) without a "Policy rider" to cover it, but the aftermarket sound system causes a fire, they still have to cover the damage to the rest of the car caused by the fire....even if they could prove you wired it up wrong and that caused the fire!

[spockrock]

Grey is right even in canada where insurance is even more strict. Any modifications you make without notifying the insurance company means if the car catches fire than anything they are not aware of means you don't get the money back.

[domdada]

Ok, to clairify a couple things again. My insurance Paid me in Full. I honestly don't thing that a back fire can cause the car to catch fire like that, if anything there will be a poof of flames and thats about it. Only if there's some sort of fuel leak, then that flame poof will cause a steady fire to continue to burn. I think that the fuel injector had a leak or the fuel line simply froze, cracked or ruptured and caught fire. Because the way that fire was going, something was fueling the fire.

The issue with the Sedan that someone seen at the dealership burned up was with the '07's that have the stock intakes. They had a recall on them and fixed the problems for 08 and up.

[skiski329]

wait why did you go to the insurance? i would have taken it to the dealer and made them replace it.

[mcheddadi]

Ok, to clairify a couple things again. My insurance Paid me in Full.

so what are you getting next? a 6MT coupe this time I hope. or maybe even a 370z coupe?!

[sonicbliss]

haha yeah man!! nows your chance to get a 370!!! DO IT!! still, sorry to hear/see this. such a shame, i really feel for you. im about to go install my FSTB now, ill be sure to give the engine a good sniff while im there!

[rjdmmfl1]

haha yeah man!! nows your chance to get a 370!!! DO IT!! still, sorry to hear/see this. such a shame, i really feel for you. im about to go install my FSTB now, ill be sure to give the engine a good sniff while im there!

Maybe things are different in other parts of the country, but here n SOCAL, these bast*rds at the Stealership are adding a 5-10K markup on the 370Z's... NOONE should buy that with a 15-30% markup.. THAT IS SOME BULLSH*T!!!!

[Team STILLEN]

agreed Robert.. why spend the markup.. and the hassle to modify a Z.. just pick up a fully built one.. 6,900 miles.. practically brand new! http://blog.stillen.com/2009/0...sale/

But to the OP.. that's crazy..

[marlin29311]

Maybe things are different in other parts of the country, but here n SOCAL, these bast*rds at the Stealership are adding a 5-10K markup on the 370Z's... NOONE should buy that with a 15-30% markup.. THAT IS SOME BULLSH*T!!!!

Lol I could get a base with sport package for $2k under if I had the money...or had the need for a 2 seater here in Jersey...

[dangeris]

Domdada, not sure what you got paid out on the coupe but if you're still looking to buy a coupe, I'd definitely entertain the Stillen Z!

Maybe things are different in other parts of the country, but here n SOCAL, these bast*rds at the Stealership are adding a 5-10K markup on the 370Z's... NOONE should buy that with a 15-30% markup.. THAT IS SOME BULLSH*T!!!!

holy crap! 15 - 30% markup? and people are buying them? I can get a 370 touring for $33K right now

I guess living in SoCal does have its drawbacks.

[domdada]

Sorry to break this to you all but I'm not going to be replacing my old car with another A/C or a Z. I wish I could but I don't have another $30K or more to spend on a car again. I already lost my a** with the 14 months of $500+ payments. I got alot going on in life, so for now, I'm gonna lay low. I went and bought an '06 Saab 9-5. I know it's a whole different car but it's a great car and I got a hella deal on it. The next Nissan that I will be in the market for will be, years from now, will be the GTR......that is once my fiance finishes up with med school.

[Carcass]

Let's see if it happens again, then we'll know there's a problem.

Personally, I think I'll leave the stock intake alone for now.

[GreyZone]

Sorry to break this to you all but I'm not going to be replacing my old car with another A/C or a Z. I wish I could but I don't have another $30K or more to spend on a car again. I already lost my a** with the 14 months of $500+ payments. I got alot going on in life, so for now, I'm gonna lay low. I went and bought an '06 Saab 9-5. I know it's a whole different car but it's a great car and I got a hella deal on it. The next Nissan that I will be in the market for will be, years from now, will be the GTR......that is once my fiance finishes up with med school.

ahha! Now I get it...he started the fire himself! hahaha, jk