MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER - Page 3

Toby · 26-04-2009, 12:42

Well it's not that I don't care and I'd have a hard time standing back and watching it burn but it's not quite the same as when you own and insure it yourself. All I'd have is a bit of emotional pain as it goes up in flames but ultimately I'd get a brand new car with no financial penalty at all

Off to France in June and wondering if I'm obliged to carry one over there.

Wossi · 26-04-2009, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vertigo1

My problem with getting a fire extinguisher is where to put it. Don't really want it rattling around in the boot.

Then again, I drive a company car so if it goes up in smoke I'll get another one - result!

Do you need one to drive in certain countries?

Same here, if my car goes up, the company insurance will sort it.

Darrin · 26-04-2009, 15:38

When I had my older Jeep I had two Halon ones. They were rather small for what they did (think 3 "D" cell batteries on end) but apparently they work quite well.

I haven't seen them for sale in ages, though.

Jonny69 · 26-04-2009, 17:29

Halon isn't made any more because it's not too good for the environment apparently.

volospian · 15-05-2009, 08:32

It's a good piece of advice there, Mr 69. I had an extinguisher in the Cerb, although in my scariest moment I doubt it would have had much effect.

I was driving to the gym one day, me and the missus. I live about 10 miles maybe from the gym and I need to drive up the A42 to the M1 J24 (Hilton Hotel). As I was pulling onto the A42 from Ashby I mentioned to the missus that I thought I could smell fuel. Anyway, the smell persisted all the way up the A42, 5 or 6 miles. We left the M1 at the slip road, and as we turned into the hotel car park I said "Jesus, I can really smell fuel now...." I pulled into the first parking bay, and, with the engine running to keep the fuel pressure up I popped the bonnet, and nearly pooped my pants.

The Cerb has a "fuel cooler" system that utilises the air con system to chill the fuel. A nice idea, but to get to it TVR route the fuel pipes down the engine vee under the fuel rail. The send pipe had split and was pumping fuel all over the engine. Needless to say I cut the engine sharpish and thanked god that nothing had sparked. Oh, and in case you don't think it was dangerous enough, the alternator also lives in the vee of the AJP engine, powered by a jackshaft running back from the crank pulley, and that too was getting a liberal spraying with warm fuel.

From reading the Cerb forums, splitting fuel lines seems a fairly common issue with them. It's no surprise that several have ended their lives as a fireball on the hard shoulder, lol

Jonny69 · 15-05-2009, 13:32

Holy cow, that was a close call

Good to see you over this way too old chap

volospian · 15-05-2009, 14:07

lol, I don't think the wife actually went in the car again after that

Darrin · 15-05-2009, 17:29

The one and only time I ever needed a fire extinguisher wasn't even in my car - it was my brother's. He had a 1974 Ford Pinto (quell the snickering, you until you hear the rest) with a 4 bolt main 302 punched out. I don't know how far he went with it, but let's say there wasn't a whole hell of a lot of cylinder wall left before hitting the water jacket. He then put an extremely lumpy cam in it, some Mustang heads, Hooker headers, the works. This thing fired up sounding like a top fuel dragster funny car. He managed to squeeze a Ford C6 transmission from an F350 (1 ton) pickup behind it and stuffed a Galaxy 500's axle in the rear.

This thing had absolutely NO trouble slapping your head into the headrests all the way through 100mph, but like most American cars, couldn't corner if you put bow thrusters on it.

Anyways, we were out doing test runs to make sure everything was working good. He had on a double length of flexible exhaust tubing temporarily in place. It was basically hung with metal coat hangers and plumber's tape. Well, one of the ends dropped out of the loop of the coat hanger, banged on the ground and slapped into the bottom of the fuel tank (he hadn't gotten to putting in the fuel cell yet). The exhaust pipe ripped a 2" gash in the bottom of the tank and then started dragging on the ground again, letting out copious amounts of sparks that we could see even in bright daylight - 4" back from where the long puddle of petrol was forming under the moving car.

Ever seen a lanky 14yr old kid clambering across the roof of a moving car that's shaped like an egg, fire extinguisher in hand trying his best to point it at the flames? Luckily the tank ran out of petrol before anything serious could happen (including me falling on my noggin on the road at 40-60mph).

Still scary as **** when you picture the petrol doing the final scene from Die Hard 2!!

Dr. Z · 15-05-2009, 22:21

sounds amazing Darrin!

Volospian and I share a near-miss there. I was doing a ridiculous speed down the motorway and could smell fuel - soon afterwards I was parked up and the smell was hurting my eyes so I knew it wasnt transfer from my shoes it had to be a leak - opened the bonnet and the fuel return pipe had perished right at the end of the injector rail (after it bends back to point back down the engine) and was hosing fuel all over my engine / alternator / oil filter etc. THANKFULLY the engine layout in the 6cyl BMWs is to lay the engine over on its side, so that the exhaust manifold is "on top" on the opposide side where the fuel rail is, so the fuel went all over the cold side of the engine.

Scary times.

Peige · 16-05-2009, 10:04

I've heard it said that your more likely to use you extinguisher to help somebody else than on your own car, still a good reason to carry one though.

Not got one myself, I think if mine went up i'd step happily to one side and let it go, mind you, its a diesel so i'd probably have to throw some wood on too to keep it going.

26-04-2009, 12:42	#21
Toby Absinthe Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,023	Well it's not that I don't care and I'd have a hard time standing back and watching it burn but it's not quite the same as when you own and insure it yourself. All I'd have is a bit of emotional pain as it goes up in flames but ultimately I'd get a brand new car with no financial penalty at all Off to France in June and wondering if I'm obliged to carry one over there. __________________

26-04-2009, 15:38	#23
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	When I had my older Jeep I had two Halon ones. They were rather small for what they did (think 3 "D" cell batteries on end) but apparently they work quite well. I haven't seen them for sale in ages, though. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

26-04-2009, 17:29	#24
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Halon isn't made any more because it's not too good for the environment apparently. __________________

15-05-2009, 13:32	#26
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Holy cow, that was a close call Good to see you over this way too old chap __________________

15-05-2009, 17:29	#28
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	The one and only time I ever needed a fire extinguisher wasn't even in my car - it was my brother's. He had a 1974 Ford Pinto (quell the snickering, you until you hear the rest) with a 4 bolt main 302 punched out. I don't know how far he went with it, but let's say there wasn't a whole hell of a lot of cylinder wall left before hitting the water jacket. He then put an extremely lumpy cam in it, some Mustang heads, Hooker headers, the works. This thing fired up sounding like a top fuel dragster funny car. He managed to squeeze a Ford C6 transmission from an F350 (1 ton) pickup behind it and stuffed a Galaxy 500's axle in the rear. This thing had absolutely NO trouble slapping your head into the headrests all the way through 100mph, but like most American cars, couldn't corner if you put bow thrusters on it. Anyways, we were out doing test runs to make sure everything was working good. He had on a double length of flexible exhaust tubing temporarily in place. It was basically hung with metal coat hangers and plumber's tape. Well, one of the ends dropped out of the loop of the coat hanger, banged on the ground and slapped into the bottom of the fuel tank (he hadn't gotten to putting in the fuel cell yet). The exhaust pipe ripped a 2" gash in the bottom of the tank and then started dragging on the ground again, letting out copious amounts of sparks that we could see even in bright daylight - 4" back from where the long puddle of petrol was forming under the moving car. Ever seen a lanky 14yr old kid clambering across the roof of a moving car that's shaped like an egg, fire extinguisher in hand trying his best to point it at the flames? Luckily the tank ran out of petrol before anything serious could happen (including me falling on my noggin on the road at 40-60mph). Still scary as **** when you picture the petrol doing the final scene from Die Hard 2!! __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

15-05-2009, 08:32	#25
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	It's a good piece of advice there, Mr 69. I had an extinguisher in the Cerb, although in my scariest moment I doubt it would have had much effect. I was driving to the gym one day, me and the missus. I live about 10 miles maybe from the gym and I need to drive up the A42 to the M1 J24 (Hilton Hotel). As I was pulling onto the A42 from Ashby I mentioned to the missus that I thought I could smell fuel. Anyway, the smell persisted all the way up the A42, 5 or 6 miles. We left the M1 at the slip road, and as we turned into the hotel car park I said "Jesus, I can really smell fuel now...." I pulled into the first parking bay, and, with the engine running to keep the fuel pressure up I popped the bonnet, and nearly pooped my pants. The Cerb has a "fuel cooler" system that utilises the air con system to chill the fuel. A nice idea, but to get to it TVR route the fuel pipes down the engine vee under the fuel rail. The send pipe had split and was pumping fuel all over the engine. Needless to say I cut the engine sharpish and thanked god that nothing had sparked. Oh, and in case you don't think it was dangerous enough, the alternator also lives in the vee of the AJP engine, powered by a jackshaft running back from the crank pulley, and that too was getting a liberal spraying with warm fuel. From reading the Cerb forums, splitting fuel lines seems a fairly common issue with them. It's no surprise that several have ended their lives as a fireball on the hard shoulder, lol

15-05-2009, 14:07	#27
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	lol, I don't think the wife actually went in the car again after that

15-05-2009, 22:21	#29
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	sounds amazing Darrin! Volospian and I share a near-miss there. I was doing a ridiculous speed down the motorway and could smell fuel - soon afterwards I was parked up and the smell was hurting my eyes so I knew it wasnt transfer from my shoes it had to be a leak - opened the bonnet and the fuel return pipe had perished right at the end of the injector rail (after it bends back to point back down the engine) and was hosing fuel all over my engine / alternator / oil filter etc. THANKFULLY the engine layout in the 6cyl BMWs is to lay the engine over on its side, so that the exhaust manifold is "on top" on the opposide side where the fuel rail is, so the fuel went all over the cold side of the engine. Scary times. __________________

16-05-2009, 10:04	#30
Peige Nice weak cup of Earl Grey Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 45	I've heard it said that your more likely to use you extinguisher to help somebody else than on your own car, still a good reason to carry one though. Not got one myself, I think if mine went up i'd step happily to one side and let it go, mind you, its a diesel so i'd probably have to throw some wood on too to keep it going.