I have a real problem. My 2002 diesel started on fire yesterday.
I had just left my house about 3 mile drive stopped at a stop light and the engine started to rev up. Made sure I did not have my foot on the throttle put the truck in park. Itried stepping on the throttle to see if it was stuck the engine did not respond. but it still would rev up and down. I then shut off the truck and it would not shut off. Just kept reving up and down. Finall it quit after a few seconds and then the smoke started to pour out from under the hood. There was a police car only a 1/2 block from me and hepulled up and shot a fire ext. through the grill (took two ext to put out the fire). waited till the fire dept came b/4 we opened the hood.

The main area of the fire was on the passenger side rear of the engine comp. melted the air cleaner and wiring. The other big problem was motor oil was dumping on the ground.The oil seems to be leaking around the bottom half of the passenger side of the engine. After the fact I went and checked and it looks like the oil was leaking for about two miles. Checked and the engine was about 2 qts low.

This truck is only 2 years old only 22,000 miles and serviced reg. by dodge.

I went in and talked to them (dodge) today and I'm getting the feeling I'm not their favorite customer!!

Has anyone else heard of this happening b/4

Also with this damage would you fix and keep it or would you go get a new one ??

 

before i can make an opinion i would like to know what caused the fire? sounds like oil on the exhaust that ignited. post some pictures of the damage.

 

Sounds like your turbo bearing/seal died on you... From what I read here and on other sites. Once the seal in the turbo gave up the engine oil became the fuel for the engine. The fire was most likely ignited off the hot turbo/exhaust system.

I also guess that you didn't have a pyro or boost gauge?

 

If you have insurance, get a yellow NADA book pronto! I apologize for this long reply, if you don't have insurance don't read any further.
I sympathize with you, having had a LeBaron to burn inside the employee lot at work once, (the day after changing the oil) the decision for me was an easy one. The hood release cable melted before we could get to the fire so the FD had to tear up stuff to extinguish the fire. I was fortunate because I had comprehensive insurance that covered me. Even if you have insurance it's not a slam dunk. The estimator came on Friday, began calculating parts and labor, and when he reached a total equal to 80% of the wholesale value he stopped and said it was a total loss. They told me they would write a check ($800 less than NADA yellow book) if I signed a release form. I refused until they gave NADA and I got to keep the custom sound system and wheels and tires. He said he would have to get intouch with his boss who was out of town blah blah blah. Two hours later (after lunch) they came back and wrote the check for NADA figure and we scheduled a wrecker to pick it up. I hope your fire experience has a likewise happy ending.
Nat

 

I could see the "engine run on" from a bad turbo seal, but he stated that oil was obviously leaking externally for a bit. Would be interesting to be able to see this thats for sure.

 

If it's anything like some run-ons I've seen the turbo may have gotten really hot and melted the feed or return oil lines to the turbo.

 

I don't know if it's worth it to you, but if you're unable to figure out "what went wrong," you might want to enlist the help of a failure analysis company/lab. I worked at a photolab this summer and you won't believe how many roles of film from engine fires that we did for one local failure analysis lab.

 

Yikes!, thats a bummer. In a case like this with the truck still under warrenty, does Dodge or the insurance company pay for the damage if it was caused by a turbo seal or line? Just courious.

 

My local dealer has been dragging their feet on this so far. They have not said it will be warranty work yet they wanted my ins co. to take a look at everything. I told my agent I was not submitting a claim since I think this should be warranty work. They looked at it and agreed also. Dealer has ordered parts so they can start this thing up and see where the oil leak is at. but part won't be in till Friday. This will be one week after the fire.

They also made me a offer. They said they have a 04 with all the same options and all I will have to do is pony up 12,000 and they will call it even. wow

I did not think these trucks should depreciate 6,000 a year Mine is still in good shape and only 22,000 miles

What to do What to do

any helpthanks.

 

Tell them you will give them 3k

 

if its a defective oil filter it would not be warranty unless it is a mopar oem filter.

 

I would make them fix it in a reasonable amount of time (like two weeks). I think there is specific maxumum shop times in the warrenty book. IMO If it was not fixed properly or in a timley manor DC should replace it free of charge. Why should you take it in the shorts for 12K on an almost new truck? You might get hold of the district manager since this is a pretty major claim.

 

Well I just got off the phone with the local dealer and they said the parts they ordered were the wrong ones now I will have to wait until tues or wed for the right parts to get in.

Thursday will be 2 weeks they have had my truck and probably no info yet. I always have had Dodge do all the maint so if it is a filter problrm it still should be warranty work.

I called dodge cust service and asked them if there was a buy back or if they had any incentives for this kind of a problem. they started a case file and will check into it but it will take up to two weeks.

It does not seem like along time but when you don't have your truck yoyu kinda feel naked !!

 

I feel your pain

A couple years ago I had a 3500 GMC crew cab dually catch fir and burn on the highway.

No Fun at all!

This one was a right off and a lengthy insurance battle.

I hope urs works out.