Spontaneously Combusting Ford Ranger

[thunderbolt]

Wow, wonder if my 96 will do that?? Then I will finally get a new ride.

[garagesale]

Wow, wonder if my 96 will do that?? Then I will finally get a new ride.

Dude, from what the fire inspector said, it's fairly common with Rangers. My advice: either get a fire extinguisher and have it ready or get full coverage insurance.

JamesD

[kryptosmaster]

Fire investigator said it was an alternator short and that he's seen it before in Ford Rangers.

JamesD

I've seen that before. I can't recall exactly which setup is in that model but the alternator did that on my 89 Crown Vic one day. I smelled something burning and was looking around for the fire. Then I stopped at a light and saw smoke coming up from the seams of my hood and realized it was ME! LOL.
I quickly made a U-turn and sped back a few hundred feet into an Autozone parking lot, threw open the hood and put out the fire with a pair of my kids shorts I found in the back seat. .
All I had to replace (besides the alt) was the pigtail harnesses and so far so good (knock on wood). That was like over 6 years ago.
It doesn't just happen to Fords so don't pigeonhole them as being bad vehicles because they are great cars.
BUY AMERICAN!
Rich

[thunderbolt]

Dude, from what the fire inspector said, it's fairly common with Rangers. My advice: either get a fire extinguisher and have it ready or get full coverage insurance.

JamesD

Its been paid off for 8 years, so we have been saving for a new one when the time comes. The insurance company won't do full coverage on it due to the age, so when it goes it goes. If it costs a 1000 or more to repair any problems its getting towed to the scrap yard.

[fallensaviour]

Fire investigator said it was an alternator short and that he's seen it before in Ford Rangers. Picked up a sweet old 94 model the next day for $3300, so I'm back on the road with a fire extinguisher in the back and comprehnsive/collision just in case. Donated the old wreck to a charity for for a tax deduction next year. Body and interior are salvagable, but the engine's charred.

JamesD

You know what I wasn't really thinking before but the same darn thing happened to my 96 caravan last year except it was the starter not the alternator.