FIRE! But under the dash, not the hood? Pics

ppritchard · 09-16-2014, 12:08 PM

Area to the left of the glovebox, looks like a finned metal piece -- that is the area where the fire was. Smoke started coming from the vents, then I saw the flames. Glovebox was out of the car, so you could see the flames to the left. Plastics were what was burning/melting.

What could have caused the fire?
Any idea what that finned piece is? Could it be the source.

Car had only been running maybe 5 min, so must have been electrical or something similar. Only recent work was a new ac compressor. No smoke under the hood, just here and through the vents.

FerociousP · 09-16-2014, 12:48 PM

Based on googling, it doesn't look like the blower motor resistor... AMP for the radio/speakers maybe???

Also, it might be a good idea to look in your fuse boxes for damaged or higher than spec fuses...

ppritchard · 09-16-2014, 02:46 PM

Picture of center speaker Bose amp looks like it could be the finned piece.

Not sure if a radio amp can catch fire, but I don't know what else is right there.

Radio was sounding funny the last couple of days, so maybe.

ppritchard · 09-16-2014, 04:39 PM

Video of fire "area". Thinking that it was the center speaker Amplifier that somehow caused the spark -- plastics became the fuel.

Any input would be appreciated.

djmtsu · 09-17-2014, 08:57 AM

Looks like the amp overheated and started melting the plastic, igniting a fire!

Damn!

Fendamonky · 09-17-2014, 09:48 AM

Thats some crazy shit...

ppritchard · 09-17-2014, 01:47 PM

Pulled the center Bose amplifier and it appears that the "top" either got hot enough to melt or hot enough to catch fire. The flames also moved to the adjacent thin plastic which is to the left of the glovebox. Wiring is at the bottom and did not display any char or other damage. So, since this is the only real heat or electrical source in the immediate area, I believe the amp was the cause of the fire.

MolotovMan · 09-17-2014, 02:03 PM

That's crazy. It was great that you were able to put it out right away!

t_g_farrell · 09-17-2014, 02:34 PM

I wonder if a short to that amp caused it to fry itself? It doesn't just happen. You need
to figure that out before replacing or it will do it again.

ppritchard · 09-17-2014, 02:36 PM

Good point. I am NOT planning on replacing the center amp, pretty sure I won't miss it.
But I will try and get a good look at the all the audio wiring.

Pete_89T2 · 09-18-2014, 04:38 AM

Were any aftermarket audio mods done to the car? I'd bet that if a previous owner had something installed with a dorked up wiring job, either DIY or incompetent car audio shop. If speaker wires were shorted somewhere, it could cause the amp that drives the shorted speakers to overheat.

ppritchard · 09-18-2014, 11:38 AM

We've had the car since -06, radio wiring looks clean.

There's another thread on the other forum of someone else having a fire on this amp last year.

09-16-2014, 12:08 PM	#1
ppritchard Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando iTrader: (0) Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	FIRE! But under the dash, not the hood? Pics Area to the left of the glovebox, looks like a finned metal piece -- that is the area where the fire was. Smoke started coming from the vents, then I saw the flames. Glovebox was out of the car, so you could see the flames to the left. Plastics were what was burning/melting. What could have caused the fire? Any idea what that finned piece is? Could it be the source. Car had only been running maybe 5 min, so must have been electrical or something similar. Only recent work was a new ac compressor. No smoke under the hood, just here and through the vents.

09-16-2014, 12:48 PM	#2
FerociousP I-had-a-bad-experience... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: M'boro iTrader: (2) Posts: 1,046 Rep Power: 18	Based on googling, it doesn't look like the blower motor resistor... AMP for the radio/speakers maybe??? Also, it might be a good idea to look in your fuse boxes for damaged or higher than spec fuses... __________________ '15 Juke Nismo '06 MX-5 GT SOLD '04 S Silver RX-8 GT Track Day Use SOLD '90 Black TII vert w/ Sprint RE stock port/turbo DD dyno (242.6whp@5500rpm @12psi 8psi@redline) and (250ftlbtq@4800rpm @13psi) SOLD '89 GTUs 6p TII SOLD, '87 sport SOLD, '79 SA stock SOLD '91 B2600i 4x4 w/ Rx-8 LSD SOLD

09-17-2014, 08:57 AM	#5
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (10) Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 21	Looks like the amp overheated and started melting the plastic, igniting a fire! Damn! __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

09-17-2014, 02:34 PM	#9
t_g_farrell Waffles - hmmm good Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huntersville, NC iTrader: (0) Posts: 757 Rep Power: 0	I wonder if a short to that amp caused it to fry itself? It doesn't just happen. You need to figure that out before replacing or it will do it again. __________________ 1980 GS stockport, Fat Nikki, RB Dual Facetfuel pumps, Holley regulator, RB Street port exhaust, 2GDFIS, MR2 MK I electric fans, 2G strut bar, relayed fans, lights and fuel pump, LEDs Project Fat Nikki Budget 12A rebuild Video setup < $30.00

09-16-2014, 02:46 PM	#3
ppritchard Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando iTrader: (0) Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	Picture of center speaker Bose amp looks like it could be the finned piece. Not sure if a radio amp can catch fire, but I don't know what else is right there. Radio was sounding funny the last couple of days, so maybe.

09-16-2014, 04:39 PM	#4
ppritchard Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando iTrader: (0) Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	Video of fire "area". Thinking that it was the center speaker Amplifier that somehow caused the spark -- plastics became the fuel. Any input would be appreciated.

09-17-2014, 01:47 PM	#7
ppritchard Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando iTrader: (0) Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	Pulled the center Bose amplifier and it appears that the "top" either got hot enough to melt or hot enough to catch fire. The flames also moved to the adjacent thin plastic which is to the left of the glovebox. Wiring is at the bottom and did not display any char or other damage. So, since this is the only real heat or electrical source in the immediate area, I believe the amp was the cause of the fire.

09-17-2014, 02:03 PM	#8
MolotovMan GTUs Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Woodbridge, VA iTrader: (0) Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	That's crazy. It was great that you were able to put it out right away!

09-17-2014, 02:36 PM	#10
ppritchard Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando iTrader: (0) Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	Good point. I am NOT planning on replacing the center amp, pretty sure I won't miss it. But I will try and get a good look at the all the audio wiring.

09-18-2014, 04:38 AM	#11
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	Were any aftermarket audio mods done to the car? I'd bet that if a previous owner had something installed with a dorked up wiring job, either DIY or incompetent car audio shop. If speaker wires were shorted somewhere, it could cause the amp that drives the shorted speakers to overheat.

09-18-2014, 11:38 AM	#12
ppritchard Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando iTrader: (0) Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	We've had the car since -06, radio wiring looks clean. There's another thread on the other forum of someone else having a fire on this amp last year.