Car fires

interstellaflyer

Lots of cases of cars catching fire over the last few days, is this due to the weather or just coincidence? The reason I ask is that I have a London drive tomorrow and it's going to be hot. I will be using M40 and M6 mainly so I guess that's going to mean I get stuck in traffic. what do we know about the cars involved ie older cars,new cars, were they specific make and models, cars known to have a history of catching fire ie Vauxhall Insignia?

Strider590

They use these cars across some of the hottest parts of Europe, if they're catching fire it's most likely not due to the heat.

Most are caused by faulty/incompetent repairs or modifications to the electrical system.
We're also probably the worst country in Europe for not maintaining our vehicles properly, not doing the basic checks and ignoring problems until the next MOT.

I would imagine the press/media are making a big fuss about car fires, when the number is actually no higher than in the middle of January.

Mat_Lock

My 52 plate Mondeo cracked the expansion tank last week while on the M25 for 3hrs.

Just make sure you have a 2l bottle of water to drink and another to top up the water if you get any issues.

BenL

Yes, avoid buying a Ferrari 458

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/11071047

Strider590

Mat_Lock wrote: »

My 52 plate Mondeo cracked the expansion tank last week while on the M25 for 3hrs.

Just make sure you have a 2l bottle of water to drink and another to top up the water if you get any issues.

I guess it pays to check/replace your expansion vessel cap, they're designed to release excess pressure.

Mat_Lock

Mk3 Mondeos are prone to cracked expansion tanks, there's been a fair few posts over the years on talkford forums.

I guess with the hot weather it just got too much, defo a crack on the underside, I could feel it when I put my hand in.

interstellaflyer

My car is a 13 plate Qashqai 360 dci so I guess I should be ok.

Mat_Lock

I should think so

Ultrasonic

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Lots of cases of cars catching fire over the last few days...

Do you have a source for that?

If true the weather would certainly seem the likely cause.

OddballJamie

Maybe the correlation is to do with people driving further to go away for the week/weekend in this weather too. I'm tempted to drive to the coast this weekend.

Strider590

OddballJamie wrote: »

Maybe the correlation is to do with people driving further to go away for the week/weekend in this weather too. I'm tempted to drive to the coast this weekend.

I'm convinced it's just the media trying to get us all into panic over a bit over warm weather.

Like this gem from yesterday http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23355833

Currently at "level 3"

Then this image:


OMG IT'S ALMOST A NATIONAL EMERGENCY!!!!!

I mean seriously, it's no hotter than Spain and the Greek islands are during the Winter/Autumn/Spring.