My 97 boxster caught fire - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

ChefCarnivore · 09-15-2009, 05:40 AM

After changing the oil, I added 8 qts of Syntec 10W 40. When I pulled the dip stick out to wipe it off and reinsert it I heard a snap like a spark noise. When I pulled the dip stick out it had a loop of the wire about 6 inches from the engine end and was red hot! The wire looked like a paper clip loop. Then smoke started and grew. I quickly disconnected the battery. By this time the smoke was really coming out so I pushed the car out of the garage and called 911.
When the local fire dept come we moved the top up to get access to the engine top. And they sprayed some water in before the hatch top was removed. This stopped the smoke. After they left I surveyed the damage. The most obvious things were the air manifold closest to the front of the car on the passenger side had melted, the shift cables and throttle body tubes where toasted and the throttle wire was cooked. There is probably more damage.
I noticed that the tube going from the rear of the car to the engine which the dip stick goes through was broken where it enters the engine. I'll show pictures when I take them. So I'm guessing that when I put the dip stick in to get a reading it came out of the guide tube and shorted on something.
Any ideas what I should do next are welcomed. I already got drunk yesterday.

Brucelee · 09-15-2009, 05:48 AM

This all happened with the engine and ignition switch off?????

ChefCarnivore · 09-15-2009, 06:12 AM

The engine was off and there was no key in the ignition.

SoCalKen · 09-15-2009, 06:34 AM

So you're thinking the dipstick touched the live wire on the starter and something else, shorted out and started the fire? the hot wire on the starter is probably the only one large enough to carry the amperage to to do this.
ken

d18mike · 09-15-2009, 06:51 AM

A few years ago Honda settled a class action suit related to some of its Element vehicles catching on fire during/after oil changes.

The way the filters were installed led to excess dripping on exhaust that ignited. Not in any way implying that this is what happened here, but it did surprise me at the time the
oil could ignite that "easily."

SeanZ4 · 09-15-2009, 06:56 AM

Have you reconnected the battery to see what does and does not work? I agree the starter wire would be the only one that could do it?? If you do a search, I believe on this forum there was another boxster that caught fire awhile back..

hummm....??? interesting thread..

good luck!
sean

Franco · 09-15-2009, 07:04 AM

Hi, Sorry for your bad luck, what to do next is call your insurance.

Good Luck

ppbon · 09-15-2009, 07:13 PM

Porsche modified the air intake on the early 986s after a few cars ingested lit cigarette butts and caught on fire.
Maybe that was your case?
Sorry to hear. Hope your insurance takes care of you properly.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Lil bastard · 09-15-2009, 08:52 PM

OUCH!

That's Nasty!

At least no one was hurt and the car was saved before it was totally cinders. And, your house/garage was spared - quick thinking you!

Well, now you get to see how good your ins. co. really is (and I hope it is as I'm with them for several cars too).

Sounds like Raby's gonna have a place in your future... some good comes out of everything!

Best of luck!