Where is the owner? Just spray the water down the cowl intake if it was a heater fan resistor fire....But the fireman could not find the hood release. You would think if it was a heater fan fire(Started by turning ON the heater fan!), then the owner would have been standing by....and told them how to open the hood. Fieros don't generally burst into flame just sitting in a parking lot! The basic plot is you have to be running (the few) that have caught fire......
Also, the camera holder is cursing the cop....What's up with that? "Pig man".....?
And of course, "Burning Fi-Er-O" stated numerous times....
I will go out now and check my heater fan resistors- I rarely get leaves in there....but......
The fire is at the front end of the vehicle, not at the cowl area. I would almost guarantee that it was caused by a headlight motor that had malfunctioned. I had one on an early 85GT that melted into an almost unrecognizeable chunk. davikan recently had one that did the same on his Indy. For some reason, it seems it's always the right side headlight motor.
There is a small spring metal piece in the point set that flexes as the points open or close. I've found that if they break, even though the motor has created enough torque to open the points, the points don't open and the motor continues to receive 12V and is still trying to run. They don't tick when this happens so the operator has no warning of what's going on. The spring metal pieces are what the points contact pad is mounted on. Indicated by the blue arrows. I saved this pic from PFF but I don't remember who to give credit to.
[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 12-29-2017).]
Originally posted by cvxjet: Fieros don't generally burst into flame just sitting in a parking lot!
Oh yes they can, and very often do! 1984WhiteSE woke up to the fire department banging on his door at 1am telling him his car was being put out.
The basics are:
There is a large resistor located in the cowl. When you put the fan on low, medium, or medium high it "resists" the electricity going through it, thus making the blower motor run slower. The lower the fan setting, the hotter the resistor can get, and it can get REALLY hot. To keep it cool while the blower is running, it is in the airflow coming into the fan intake. The problem is that leaves, debris, and even nests of mice and such collect in this area. When the resistor gets hot enough the debris can start to smolder. The car can be parked for hours before flames actually take hold, and catches on fire.
This was Andrews car when the sun came out the next morning, December 20th 2011
[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 12-29-2017).]
I have heard of the resistor fire many times, and am always letting friends know to clean out that area. This is the first I have heard of the headlight motor issue. Looks like this specific issue would only affect Gen 1 motors?
I have heard of the resistor fire many times, and am always letting friends know to clean out that area. This is the first I have heard of the headlight motor issue. Looks like this specific issue would only affect Gen 1 motors?
Yes, just Generation 1 because the points are what breaks the power to the motor itself. There is constant 12 Volt to the point set. It can also happen if the motor can't generate enough torque to open the points. The headlight could be completely down but still have power going to it. The Generation 2 power supply is interrupted by the solid state module.
I have an 88. should I be concerned about either of these items you are mentiong? Where do I find these modules you are discussing? Thank you for your time.
The 88 has a solid state module inside the left front fender. You can see the harness where it passes through from the left headlight area. You would have to remove the retainer screws in the front of the left fender well liner or possibly look up from underneath to see it. Flat, and about 5 inches square. Because it breaks the circuit electronically instead of mechanically, it may not be a problem. Never heard of an 87 or 88 melting a motor.
The heater fan resistor is present on all Fieros. Located in the front compartment, just to the passenger side of the heater fan motor.
The fire is at the front end of the vehicle, not at the cowl area. I would almost guarantee that it was caused by a headlight motor that had malfunctioned. I had one on an early 85GT that melted into an almost unrecognizeable chunk. davikan recently had one that did the same on his Indy. For some reason, it seems it's always the right side headlight motor.
I have an 88. should I be concerned about either of these items you are mentiong? Where do I find these modules you are discussing? Thank you for your time.
For the blower, you should just need a 7mm socket and a socket wrench.
Here is a quick vid by a cool guy I met at the Wisconsin Dells Run Fiero Show. Subscribe to his YOUTUBE channel, he does Fiero projects.
Here he talks about how to inspect for debris in your heater system/ blower motor/ resistor.
When you get the blower motor out, reach in there to the left and see if there is any debris,
