A gas leak and heat from the engine cooling system sounds more possible - even so it would be unusual to have this wait around to start a fire - but a gas drip and a cigarette... again does your friend smoke?

 

Nope! No smokers. Hopefully we get answers tomorrow night. And about the personal message sent to me, I hope to prove you wrong, as I have no enemies and there is no apparent signs of it. So that's it for the night, to those of you who are interested, and for the one of you who still has a conspiracy theory outlook! I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully with answers

 

Somebody's seen the Final Destination Movies one too many times...



So sorry about your 8! =( I'm glad you weren't hurt!

 

What about this as a possble cause?

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/my-car-just-doesnt-burn-oil-drinks-105014/

 

Have you or your insurance company contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)?

 

there is the problem right there

 

But it could fit into the "oily rag spontaneous combustion" possibility.

Also, if a cigarette butt was the ignition source, it didn't have to come from a friend or an enemy. Just a passing smoker randomly tossing a butt.

Personally, with the main fire being on the fuel rail side, I'd vote for a small fuel leak sparked by a passing butt-tosser.

It's going to be interesting to see if any of any of our learned speculations come close to whatever the insurance company (and NHTSA, if they get involved) conclude. Mostly, though I hope the insurance company concludes no foul play and gives arosenkrans a fast and fair settlement so she can get a new car and get this behind her.

Ken

 

I actually had one of the first FDs that caught on fire. A friend of mine owned it. he was driving when it lost power. He pulled into a gas station where it started to burn from the front. the fire department put it out. Mazda tried to blame it on a radar detector. I bought the car and rebuilt it. Mazda asked for several parts, which I sent to them. To make a long story short, it was the fuel hose going from the fuel filter to the engine. By this time 4 more caught on fire and Mazda settled with the previous owner.
My car had a similar burn pattern, except it did not get to the gas tank. the back of the car was not damaged at all. The fire department also tried to call it an electrical fire. I would put money on a fuel fire. Mazda needs to investigate your car. I would call Quality control at (714) 442-6511 or the 800 number in the manual.

Mine was a 93 with 15000 miles on it.

Get a new one. Your insurance and Mazda will resolve it.

John

 

That's interesting. Thanks for the number. My insurance looked at it today to investigate, and the report will be available tomorrow. I will let them know about this possibility. I'll keep you updated. Hopefully tomorrow!

 

Hi arosenkrans. I'm from St. Peters also, but just moved to Indy a few weeks ago. Where did this happen? Depending on when you bought your car, I'd probably seen you around town, unless there is another BB RX8 in St. Peters (my twin).

Wish you the best!

 

Sorry to hear about the fire.

Keep us updated.

 

Anxious to know what the insurance investigation found, and also whether NHTSA will be involved.

 

Well the guy that said that Mazda discon'd the car in 04 due to electrical fires was telling a patholgical lie.

Dude, hate to say it but **** does happen - on build, they could have skinned a wire and that was just waiting to short to something and one day it did ... or if you have installed any mods whatsoever that connect to the electrical system, well ... there's a path.

Sorry for your loss. It's only a car. Insurance will take care of it.

 

I still haven't heard anything. It's been 11 days, but still nothing. I have called State Farm repeatedly (so much that the claims person said I call too much). I am still driving a borrowed car, and I hope to be able to buy a new one at the beginning of the year! I will keep everyone updated. And StewC625, I know it's a bad website. I was told that a million times if you would have read the other posts, you would have seen that. Thanks for reiterating. I will keep you all updated though!

 

11 days? You're not calling too much. They're not working hard enough.

They may be setting you up to lowball the settlement. Old trick: stall, so that by the time they offer something you've been car-less for long enough and just want to get on with it.

Ken

 

i'm still amazed the gas tank 'blew'.

some time ago i watched a burning house engulf five nearby cars in flames; they ended up catching fire themselves and completely burned (to black husks), and the only BOOMs were from the tires bursting from the heat/fire (which did sound like explosions).

The heat was so intense that from some distance away it bubbled the paint on my car.

Gas tanks seem fairly "explosion resistant" in my limited experience.

I suppose this might not apply to fires that start from within the car (fuel system)?

--

BTW is "arosenkrans" similar to "Rosencrantz" (eg: "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead"/Hamlet) ?

 

I should find out tomorrow what the investigation turned up (per my phone conversation today). I'll let you know what they say, as long as I really do find out tomorrow. 16 days and counting since my car went to the little car heaven in the sky!

 

Funny, I had my whole gas tank replaced because of an e;ectrical short in the transfer pump. The guy said our tank is actually two parts and one side pumps fuel to the other side when needed. I never really looked into it because they just ordered a new tank and replaced it. I started noticing it when I freakin ran out of gas with teh guage showing half a tank!! I wonder if this "short circuit" could have anything to do with it.

 

I don't think so. That would have been an explosion like TWA flight 800. There is no power to the fuel delivery system when the ignition is off as in her case. From what I can see, the fire started in the engine compartment, and then burned the plastic fuel line back to the tank, like a fuse.

I really think this is a fluke. When my FD caught on fire, it had 15k mi as did most Fds at that time. Then a bunch of them started to light off. The cars were in service for only a year.

The RX-8 has been in service for 3years now and there are some with over 100k mi on them. Fires are not showing up. Blown motors, however are, and Mazda is addressing that issue.

John

 

You might want to upgrade your insurance to Allstate - They covered even damage from rodents -

 

Ok. I heard from State Farm today. She said that it appears to be an unusual burn pattern, but it appears to be an electrical problem. They have to send an expert to check it out, but that appointment is NEXT THURSDAY! I have already been carless for 20 days...this sucks! Hopefully it will be resolved next week. I will continue to keep you all updated.

And before anyone asks, there are no additions that I or the previous owner have made to the car! I will keep you updated on the cause

 

Anxious to hear what a trained experienced professional investigator determines. They may even want to do lab work or such, I would guess. Keep us posted and best wishes, I would say "Happy New Year" but you would probably think I was being a wise-***.

 

Happy new year to you to! Sorry if I am being a little cautious, just wanted to cover all my bases so I dont get blasted again. I am ready to get a new car; I am tired of driving a borrowed Escort when available! Going from the hot, fast Rx8 to the Escort...yikes! I'm sure you ALL understand that

 

Time to pay a visit to Bommarito!

 

It's also unreasonable. Tell them to either declare it to be totaled and pay you off, or to take it to the shop of your choice now and get it fixed. Now. Unless they suspect fraud on your part, there is no proper reason for them to stall.

As I said a few posts back, whatever they're up to includes wearing you down so they can lowball the final settlement. You might check with your state Attorney General's office or insurance regulators about how long they can keep you hanging.

Ken