Yup, you heard right, the Z caught fire today out of NO WHERE. My buddy and I pulled out of a parking lot and the cabing started to smell funny. Next thing smoke startign pouring out around the dash panels. It got REALLY bad and started BLOWING in our faces so we couldnt see and definately couldnt breath (even with the windows open). In a hurry I pulled over and parked.

Long story short, all sorts of crap is melted under the center console and dash. I still havent been able to determine whta STARTED it but I did unplug everything and drove it home.

GOD DOES IT SMELL. Nothing better then burnt plastic ,wires, and carpet.

 

NNNOOOOOOOOOO! That's like my worst nightmare, thanks alot for making me think about it. Oh the humanity.

Seriously, if you figure out what it was PLEEEASE let us know what it was.

 

Holy crap! What exactly were doing at the time? (Not that I'm blaming you of course, I'm just making sure I won't do that.)

 

Thank God for all that metal in there! It acted as a FIRE-wall for you.

Sorry, I hope you took that the way it was intended. Hope you find the problem. Keep us posted.

 

NOOOOOO

Scott, say it ain't so!!

I'm glad you're OK, and I hope the damage is minimal.

 

Dude, that really sucks! stereo wire maybe? Glad the damage sound minimal.

 

I think the hardwired RADAR detector started this chain reaction. It melted to the metal frame under the dash then caused the LED wire behind my headunit to melt. After that the headunit wires caught fire and all went to crap.

This is my theory. PS- no fuses blew

 

did you put fuses in? that sucks big time man, THIS is the kinda thing we all dread when we modify our cars. I always worry "what if" my grounding wire came loose and hit a positive lead somewhere?

 

Scott I feel for you man. That is awful!!!!! Miss you today for our little drive, maybe better that you didn't go. Could have been trouble if that happened on a twisty.

 

that really suck

 

Karl, I didnt go for a few REALLY good reasons. I cant say here, but next time i see ya, I will let you know.

Oh, i TRACKED down the problem. I originally thought it was some of my personal stereo wiring. ERR nope.

The antenna booster wire was FRIED on the harness side of the car. Apparently something between the booster and the radio shorted out and caused a chain reaction melting everythign else in the way.

NOT COOL!!!!

 

Had something similar happen years ago..circa 1977. Had a little Pinto..first car...with all sorts of stereo 'junk' in it. Going down the road one day after an 'upgrade' noticed smoke rolling out around my feet, near the fuse panel. So what did I do? Grabbed a hand full of wires and yanked. Hot wires and melting plastic..not good on bare hands. Stopped the smoke problem, but created another. Still have the scars to prove it.

 

WTF??? Thats scary. I drove home from monterey CA last night. About a 100+ mile drive. As I passed oakland I started to notice a burning smell. I had the AC on but the Radio was off.

I had a feeling that it was an older Sentra in front of me (88-90)

So I passed him and drove past him. turned the AC off and the smell was gone.

about 2 miles down the road turned the AC back on and no smell..

Thats scary. I hope it wasn't my Brick. It has been problem free since Feb

 

it wasnt his car that was burning. well it was, but it was aftermarket mods not anything on a stock car.

so still no worries of a fire unless something you did or had done goes wrong.

a very good reason to be sure that your electical work is all strong, cars vibrate, given enough time, if a positive lead is rubbing against metal, it could wear through, complete the circuit, boom.

 

Ares, maybe I didnt make myself totally clear.

The STOCK wiring from the anteanna booster in the trunk to the dash went up like a WICK! It in-turn roasted everything up in the dash board that was in its way/laying on it/near it etc.

No biggy, i just rippped it out haha. I dont listen to the radio anyway.

 

Maybe it's just a Brickyard thing?

But on a serious note, Damn Wadd, that sucks, so what are you doing now, just re-wiring or do you actually have to replace a lot of other plastics and such behind the dash? And do you think this could have affected airbags? Make sure the check into that!

 

Thats a good point, i sure hope it did not effect anything in its path!

All the damage is internal on the plastic so no one would ever know. The carpet is burnt on the underside so you cant see it either. I made out VERY lucky!

 

well crap, your not gonna bring it to nissan? you should atleast tell them about it. tho Im sure theyll tell you you caused it somehow.

 

That sucks!

Anyhow ARES, if you wire things right and down the road a wire rubs through and shorts out, a fuse should blow - thats what they are there for. Fuses are your friend

 

I've heard you can rent ozone generators from companies that specialize in smoke damage. That will get rid of the bad smell. Just put the ozone generator in your car overnight.

Good luck with repairs.
--
Jeff