2002 PT Cruiser Fire

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ralph Pardue
  • Start date Start date
R

Ralph Pardue

Today my wife drove her 2002 PT Cruiser (PTC) with 14K miles into a marina
parking lot. While doing a low-speed U-turn, a bolt in the power steering
rack area came loose, causing power steering fluid to spray onto the
catalytic converter, which instantly started a fire. A boat mechanic
instantly spotted the fire and came running with a big dry chemical fire
extinguisher. He was able to quickly extinguish the fire. They pushed the
PTC back into a parking spot and noticed a large amount of red fluid on the
asphalt. Further checking revealed the power steering fluid canister was
void of fluid. The PTC was towed to a local Chrysler dealership, where my
Insurance Rep was waiting. 3.5 hours later the leak was fixed and existing
fuel pump warranty work was completed. No other damage was detected,
primarily due to one fast-acting good Samaritan. Yes, we put kitty litter
down to soak up the fluid.

Someone please tell me I am not going to have to complete an extensive
pre-drive inspection prior to daily driving. Aren't catalytic converters
supposed to be adequately shielded to prevent such fires? Seems dangerous
to have the front of the converter poking into the engine bay area anyway.
Me, nor my friends have ever heard of this type problem on any car. Anyone
else experience this? My wife is still freaked out.

Can't say enough good things about my new friend with the fire extinguisher.
I had to beg him to take some cash.
 
You might want to report this to NHTSA, (I think that's the right initials)
The national highway and transportation safety administration. Did you try
to contact anyone higher up in Chrysler?

My wife & I love our 2002 PT Limited Edition, I just hope this was a unusual
occurrence.

SRG
 
Weird things happen, no design or "shielding" can adequately prevent
*every* screwball scenario. If they could, there wouldn't be ANY car
fires. Its only when something starts appearing over and over again in
the fleet of similar cars that I'd suspect a real flaw.

extinguisher.
Click to expand...

Which is one reason its a good idea to ALWAYS carry one. Even the small
ones that fit in a glove box and are only good for a 15-second blast
might be enough to save a vehicle (or a life). Cheap and easy insurance.....
 
No the CC is not shielded in such a way. They get soooooooo hot it's
impossible. What is shielded is the area around the floor. Anything getting
that hot will catch fire if something flammable gets on it. There is nothing
NHTSA can or will do about it.
Larry
 
Or maybe it was just a freak accident (which seems the most likely
scenario). The cat must have *really* gotten doused with fluid because you
can normally pour oil all over one or an exhaust manifold and create lots of
smoke, but no fire. Wierd.

Cheers,

C
 
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