Bravada Blows Up and Burns...

[Element]

So I decided I would go up to the lake today and I was running on empty so I filled up the Bravada and start heading out. Not even 5 minutes from the perimeter my check engine light comes on and I start losing power and I notice the black smoke coming from the ass end of the car.

I immediately pull over and decide to pop the hood to see what's going on. As soon as I popped the hood FLAMES shot out and I quickly slammed the hood shut and booked it hard from the Bravada. This gentleman in a Corvette picks me up and we drive quickly away from the now englufed Bravada.

Since I was in the middle of nowhere it took the fire department 30 minutes to get there, but by that time the gas tank had already exploded and all that was left of the Bravada was a frame, and nothing more.

I want to give a special thanks to the volunteer fire department of Warren as well as Stonewall paremedics for helping me out in my time of need.

Anyways on to the pics. The pics were taken with my camera phone, the only think I salvaged from the fire. In total I lost about $7000 worth of personal belongings in my car as I over 500 CD's in the car, my backpack full of electronics, my system, and miscelanneous other items.

http://members.shaw.ca/NJayaranjan/Bravada Burnt 2.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/NJayaranjan/Bravada Burnt 3.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/NJayaranjan/Bravada Burnt 4.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/NJayaranjan/Bravada Burnt 5.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/NJayaranjan/Bravada Burnt 6.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/NJayaranjan/Bravada Burnt 7.jpg

[Jman423]

Wow man, thats horrible, I'm glad you are alright!! What do you think caused it?

[Element]

Wow man, thats horrible, I'm glad you are alright!! What do you think caused it?


Ive been having overheating issues with it and it has been in and out of the dealer 4 times now for it. I don't think they fixed it....

[Jman423]

.............I don't think they fixed it....
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you are on the right track with that thought.

So whats the next step? Does the dealer have any responsibility in any of this, or do you just get screwed by your insurance?

[jimmyjam]

yowzers thats crazy. I'm sure you'll be talking to a lawyer, someone needs to be held accountable for that. I've seen cars burn before, when I lived in brooklyn, but those where usually intentional, probably for insurance payouts. Anyway at least you're not hurt, cars are easier to replace than body parts.

[deathbynosleep]

Ive been having overheating issues with it and it has been in and out of the dealer 4 times now for it. I don't think they fixed it....

File a lemon law...not sure if it will still work because the car seems pretty beaten up right now. I hope everything works out in your favor.

[Envoy Fan]

Ive been having overheating issues with it... :eek: :yes:

I would have to say that was the ultimate overheating issue :x

Glad you are okay, hope you come out ok with insurance company.

[bmm354]

:eek: Wow! Like everyone else mentioned I'm glad you made it out fine. Car fires are very serious and from what I've heard it is astonishing just how quickly a car can become fully engulfed, and how fiercely it will burn.

As to a possible cause, I've read bits and pieces on this site about problems with the fuel canister purge system. This system (called EVAP) is emissions related and prevents fuel vapor from getting into the atmosphere. The vapor is sent to a storage canister via hoses from the gas tank. When the engine is running and the computer sees the right conditions a purge valve opens allowing the vapor to be sucked into the engine via a special connection.

What I've heard is something goes wrong with the system and causes rough running/stalling and the service engine light to come on usually not long after refilling. I wonder if something went wrong with this system on your Bravada and dumped raw gas onto the engine, or vapor into the engine compartment?

Whatever the case please keep us posted on what the dealer says the cause might be. Also, once you hear what they determine it might not be a bad idea to report the fire to NHTSA.gov. If they hear of enough similar fires they can launch an investigation, which could lead to a recall.

[ylab]

Damn, glad to see nobody was injured.

As far as causes, I'd take a good look at the fuel filter fittings....I know you mentioned overheating, but an engine running hot doesn't necessary cause it to burn up like you described. With flames like that from under the hood, it was being fueled by something highly flamable. (GAS)

I mention the fuel filter as my buddy had his line blow off the filter on the highway just a few weeks ago and he lost power and coasted to the side of the highway. (Luckily his engine wasn't real hot and had only run a mile or two). In just the attempt to crank and the minute or two max that he turned the ignition on to use Onstar for help, he dumped half a tank of fuel from is Envoy XL. - When to come disconnected, they dump fuel at several gallons a minute and it only takes a small amount to spash on the exhaust and start a fire. The mechanic mentioned that he was lucky a fire hadn't started due to the line blowing off.

[FattyTBEXT]

I'm glad you're okay. Car and truck fires are scary.

I think GM needs to offer an "Employee Discount for Element" event. So you can get a new Envoy Denali. :yes:

[jauto98]

D&mn. That must have scared you to death, I know I would have. Glad you thought quickly and just saved yourself instead of trying to get what you had in the Bravada. Things can be replaced, you can't. Those Bravadas are nice, test drove one when they first came out and that thing was smooth and had some pickup. Hope things work out and like others said. I'd let the dealer know. I would probably go to the dealer you were working with with the remains on the Bravada on the flat bed and claim some warranty work. Said it overheated or something, show them your copied documents of your involvement with the possible solution and see what comes out of it. If not to your satisfaction, I'd contact a lawyer, or first talk to a mechanic you or someone really trusts in show them the paper work and explain the events that led up to this situation. Maybe the mechanic can give some insight. Let us know how things are going. Sorry for your lost :( .

[sallen]

wow, glad your ok, similar thing happend to me in my ford aerostar some years back, it just came out of the dealer that day for a recall for a faulty alternator which could catch fire, and lol on the way home from getting that fixed it caught fire, basicly i got a new windstar out of the deal, which broke down later that week and i took it back and they paid off the loan on the aerostar and i went and got a pontiac, no more fords

shay

[ENVOY2LOW43]

That was one helluva overheating problem :eek:
Luckily no one was hurt. A car is easier to replace than a lost limb. Does this mean this is the end of GM for you?

[nyraider56]

Ive been having overheating issues with it and it has been in and out of the dealer 4 times now for it. I don't think they fixed it....

I had lemon law issues w/ my Jimmy when I first got it, fortunately it was an exhaust issue and was nowhere near as bad as your situation.

Question? What happens now? What did the dealership say? Is everything in the hands of the insurance company? I mean that sucks becuase now, when it comes to insurance companys, you've got a totalled car on your record. Sometimes it doesn't matter how, all they care about is the car being totalled.

BTW, when it comes to collecting...You had your new laptop, your xbox and PS2 and your Tivo in the trunk of the Bravada. That all needs to be replaced.

GLAD YOUR OK!!! Just curious.

[tb_ky]

That sucks. Sounds like its a good thing you are lucky that you didnt try to get all your stuff out like I probably would have.

[triz]

Wow! :eek: Sorry to hear about the truck. I had my catalyc converter overheat on me and the oil that was under the truck caught on fire. I had to run to some ConEdison workers and get there fire extinguisher and then wait for the firemen to show up. Though not nearly as bad as yours. But I wish you luck with the insurance company. I would write to GM and ask for a "SUPER EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT on a Trailblazer SS!" :yes:

[MoJoe]

Holy crap, I just saw these pics. That is insane :eek:

[OurZoo]

Glad you yourself made it out okay. I'm sorry that happened to you. Hopefully everything will work out for the best.

[Element]

Well? Any updates?


Nothing really. The fire is "suspicious" as my insurance agent says and they are investigating me and my family which showed up after the fire started as they think that we started it or something.

Other that it's just a waiting game for now...

[MoJoe]

Nothing really. The fire is "suspicious" as my insurance agent says and they are investigating me and my family which showed up after the fire started as they think that we started it or something.

Other that it's just a waiting game for now...

Sounds typical of INS companies. I have noticed each year them getting more strict because of so many false claims by dis-honest people :mad:

[triz]

Sounds typical of INS companies. I have noticed each year them getting more strict because of so many false claims by dis-honest people :mad:




tell me about it...I was interrogated...and I am a Detective...talk about about the shoe being on the other foot.

[dh4645]

Ive been having overheating issues with it and it has been in and out of the dealer 4 times now for it. I don't think they fixed it....


hehe yeah, i guess not. man that is horrible

[dh4645]

Nothing really. The fire is "suspicious" as my insurance agent says and they are investigating me and my family which showed up after the fire started as they think that we started it or something.

Other that it's just a waiting game for now...


thats f'ed up

[itstrick]

So I decided I ............[/IMG]




That brings a tear...