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While my cousin was waiting in the doctor's office the receptionist exclaimed "does anyone here own a black Jaguar?" My cousin says yes. Well I hate to tell you it's on fire! Any thoughts on what would cause this?
Any chance the timing chains went and the valves got bent?
Several years ago I purchased an Audi A8 engine out of Chicago that was "mint" from a low mileage A8 which had an interior fire. Unfortunately I never turned the engine by hand when I picked it up. Just before install, after replacing various items, I turned the engine and discovered the bent valves and the spanking new timing belt.
I figured the original owner had a timing belt break, replaced the belt, torched the car and collected the insurance.
The car ran perfect that he had no electrical work done on it but he said it definitely started from the passenger side... luckily he had comprehensive on his policy
Sad to see that. First thing that comes to mind is running over a piece of trash that maybe stuck to the hot exhaust pipes under the car but not being familiar with the x350, I don't know how much is covered by an under tray.
Next thing tho, a personal pet peeve of mine, is how all the plastic wiring retainers break in the normal course of doing maintenance and how mechanics almost never bother to replace them. Doesn't necessarily have to be electrical repairs, rather for example they might have to move some wires just to be able to make room to remove a component. The retainers frequently break, especially on older cars. If the wires aren't secured back correctly, they might flop around and rub on a moving part or melt against a hot part. But when time is money, those little details get skipped, especially when they break and leave the barbed end of the retainer jammed in the hole. Depending on access, a mechanic could spend another hour trying to dig the little barb out in order to repair it correctly. That's an hour they would not get paid for. Instead they'll leave it loose or maybe ziptie it to a nearby bracket that they shouldn't have. I kind of expect that these things rarely result in a fire or they wouldn't do it. More likely something would just stop working, throw a code or blow a fuse (which then generates more business for them). However, I suppose in just the right confluence of circumstances a spark could ignite a nearby flammable material. Doing my own maintenance and repairs, I will always take the time to re-wrap wiring harnesses and replace all the broken or sketchy retainers. They're cheap enough on Amazon.
Agreed dupler, do your own work, because you can take the extra time.
Where the book paid hrs, for the job alone, allows NO extra time.
For extenuating circumstances, that can happen to anyone.
Oh Jeez, wish I hadn't seen that. Sympathies to your cuz. How come another black XJ turned up, is that getting picked up in style or what?
Cynical note to self: does aluminium melt before steel? not that it would matter. I sometimes think about carrying a fire extinguisher, not that I have any particular reason to.
Has to be fuel-fed surely? Early XJS V12 were prone to engine fuel fires, of course this is different. I don't know what materials are in the fuel supply system with this car.
I just want to say I never intended to infer your cousin torched the car. I just wanted to share the story as it reminded me of my engine mishap.
Engine fires are rather common - especially when oil leaks are not addressed. Very possible the car had developed enough of a leak and the oil dripped on the hot exhaust.
Fuel supply, unless the car was worked on, is extremely uncommon. Never heard X350s with such a problem - and if they had it by now it would have been recalled.
Fuel supply... and if they had it by now it would have been recalled.
Really? So when did they recall the XJS? (where fuel supply fires were a common problem-something to do with rubber hoses all over the V12 engine)
Edit: there have been some XJS recalls, one mentioning the word FIRE, though not for the fuel rail fires which is how my mate picked up a fire-damaged XJS cheap. Of course, not as bad as the pictures here.
Anyway, how can there be such large flames unless fuel (or oil) is involved? How long was it unattended? 1hr? (can't be much more?)
Last edited by ChrisMills; 08-04-2019 at 04:08 PM.
Reminds me of my previous car -XJ8L in my signature. Of course driving at 70+ mph into the back of a STOPPED TRUCK WITH NO LIGHTS ON on a dark highway might have contributed. As soon as I came to a stop, a nice little campfire had started on top of the engine. Broken fuel rail, ignited by multiple sparks from crushing metal is the likely cause.
Let me just say that even with a bruised or broken rib (from seat belt, and since the windshield was destroyed I think that was an acceptable trade off), when you see flames, you tend to perform egress asap.
That's it, merrily burning on the side of 540 in Raleigh. The little campfire got 15 feet tall in short order.
And yes, aluminum burns at a lower temp than steel. Left to burn you end up with a pile of ash with these cars. Still it was an incredibly safe car to have a high speed collision in, and I am glad I bought it for that reason. The reason? I had ANOTHER major crash in a Scion tC in 2013 after I had an aneurysm burst in my head with a major hemorrhage. Still I drove 1.2 miles in major traffic while unconscious. I've had enough drama on the road this decade to make up for 40 years of no accidents.
Be safe out there! And if you DO see flames, get out. UK cars come with extinguishers in the boot. For all our safety requirements in the US, this would seem to be a no-brainer.
08-02-2019 | 06:00 PM
