Has your Ford done this?

Just wondering if anyone else has had their Ford truck or SUV decide to BBQ itself.

My 98 F150 did on 2-1-05. It had been parked for 3 hours and the cruise control deactivation switch (the same switch being recalled in the 2000 models) decided to ignite and explode, within 20 minutes my truck was burnt to a crisp.

If your interested in seeing what the truck looks like, here's a photo.

Reply to
Crispy98
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There is a recall in process now. AFAIK, customer letters have been sent out regarding the problem. Last I heard, there were insufficient stocks of the updated switch to fullfill the recall and that techs are instructed to disconnect the old switch until the new switch is available.

HTH..

Reply to
Jim Warman

The recall is for 2000 models and some 2001's built in 2000. It doesn't come close to covering the model years of affected vehicles. Yes Ford is disconnecting the switches until new ones are available.

So what is Ford doing about the other year models that have the same switch? They say they are still investigating them but haven't reached a conclusion yet. The NHTSA complaint site is full of reports concerning these fires.

My truck is gone, thankfully no one was hurt and there was no structural damage, but people are losing their houses when these vehicles roast in the garage.

If I'd have known about this issue affecting models years outside the recall early enough I'd have disconnected the cruise control deactivation switch myself and saved my truck.

Kinsey

Reply to
Crispy98

OUCH ! now that's just mean !

Perhaps a Lawyer could be of assistance b/c I'm sure that your insurance company will find a way to hold you liable.

Reply to
Full_Name

How do you know it was that particular switch? Could it have been a fuel leak or a different switch?

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

Every manufacturer has their own spate of spontaneous combustion models, Fiero For GM ect etc etc.

And yes a fuel leak could well cause this to happen. With the Fiero's it was engine oil dripping onto a hot cat.

Good luck with your truck

Reply to
Full_Name

LMFAO

Fuel leak? That would need an ignition source... Could it have been you torching his truck? Hey it could have been a meteor too!

The odds overwhelming indicate the the cruise control deactivation switch currently subject to Ford's ever growing recall.

Reply to
351CJ

What is it with Fords and spontaneous combustion?

Reply to
sleepdog

Jeff, My insurance company sent out an independent fire investigator with 40+ years of experience. He says the cruise control deactivation switch caused the fire. The responding fire department stated the fire started in the area of the master cylinder,(where the CCDS is located). These fires follow a specific burn pattern. When we filed our report with NHTSA the man we spoke with described the damage to our truck to a tee, BEFORE we told him anything other than our than our 98 F150 had burned.

I'm going with the experts on this one as to the cause of the fire.

Kinsey

Reply to
Crispy98

sleepdog,

If Ford is trying to perfect the self roasting vehicle I think they have down to an art form.

Kinsey

Reply to
Crispy98

NO NO NO.....that was NOT the cause of fires in the Fiero. it was due to the engine compartment heat causing the carb to "perk" fuel all over the manifolds. Remember..the Fiero was not fuel injected. Rarely happened to the 4 cyl versions, almost always happened to the 6 cyl version after it was driven hard or in the summer and then parked.

Reply to
DR RASTIS FAF00FNIK

Thanks. I was curious how you knew.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

To be honest, I haven't figured out how they even decided on the affected production range. I haven't noticed anything odd with my 02 SuperCrew but neither have I checked to see if the switch is heating (I rarely drive the truck since I use the "junker" and my scooter when weather perits - junker may not be the right term since it is better than some folks main rides). Even more surprising is the fact that this switch appears to be (according to the wiring diagrams) in a low current cicuit.

I know this answer is more of a non-answer but if I find any other info, I'll try to remember to post it.

Reply to
Jim Warman

Reply to
Brad Kraan

I'd kind of assumed the switch was shorting to ground and getting hot, since like you said it's a very low power circuit. I'm not sure what the logic was behind making that circuit hot at all times was though. Bob

Reply to
Bob

Yeah, I'm fairly certain my insurance has a clause that says "we don't cover squat if the car kills itself"...

They leave it up to you to battle it out with FoMoCo.

JS

Reply to
Jacob Suter

Actually, we had an insurance check in hand 4 days after the truck fire. Our insurance company has been great through this whole thing. They even hired an independent fire investigator to find the exact cause of the truck fire. I've read where some people haven't been so lucky with their insurance companies and can imagine what kind of stress that adds to what is an already stressful situation.

On the other hand, Ford wasn't helpful at all. They barely wanted to hear our report when we called them and we received a standard blow-off letter from them a few days later.

Reply to
Crispy98

Well hopefully Ford will be forced to repay your insurance company, rather than it come out of your wallet for the next few years...

JS

Reply to
Jacob Suter

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