Spontaneously Combusting Ford Ranger

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[thunderbolt]

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

[fallensaviour]

Wow,thats crazy!!!
I'm glad you're okay and everything worked out for you.
On a side note I just got rid of my 2003 ford ranger last week...

[toys2cool]

I hope some day you come across the dude that did this.

oh I only pray for that day to come

thanx guys

[LOU]

Terrible story toys. I now hope something good will happen to you as the karma comes around. That's awful, I too loved the Cobras.

Glad you got new wheels garage! Great idea with the charitable donation too. Happy to hear it worked out!

[MIB41]

yeah,but how many people pay full cover insurance on a 95 truck? If he has PIP which is what i would've probably had on it, then no they don't cover a penny

When my 95 Cobra was stolen, which was valued at well over $13K, the only thing that was covered was the towing of the car if they ever found it

God I remember when that happened to you Damian. ARRRGH! That so p*ssed me off. I'm a big mustang (and mid-80's RS Capri) ethusiast, so I felt very bad for you dude. Man that just SUCKED! I hope some day you come across the dude that did this. I would like to be there to help dish out the punishment with you.

[garagesale]

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

[toys2cool]

Can't they still total it toys? No?

yeah,but how many people pay full cover insurance on a 95 truck? If he has PIP which is what i would've probably had on it, then no they don't cover a penny

When my 95 Cobra was stolen, which was valued at well over $13K, the only thing that was covered was the towing of the car if they ever found it

[vulcan2074]

Thats too crazy. I would of freaked out. I'm glad you didn't get hurt
Sammy

[megocrazy]

Glad to hear your OK.

[kryptosmaster]

I would check for recalls and find out if that vehicle had any wiring problems during production. My brother had a Ranger back in the 80's that had all sorts of wiring issues. Turned out to be a recall problem and he got reimbursed. I think it's worth your time to check into it.

Even if there was a recall, if he was sent numerous notices and failed to take the vehicle in the get the recall done then Ford will deny the claim. They did their job by informing him and offering to fix the problem for free. Of course that's barring any lawyer interferences but I know that in a scenario as I described they will not cover any damage if the owner neglected to get the repairs performed after being notified several times.
I've seen it numerous times in regards to the speed control wiring recall which I can't recall if that one applied to this model or not.
Rich

[MIB41]

I would check for recalls and find out if that vehicle had any wiring problems during production. My brother had a Ranger back in the 80's that had all sorts of wiring issues. Turned out to be a recall problem and he got reimbursed. I think it's worth your time to check into it.