Hi - I'm new here. I want to buy a new Ford diesel truck but am concerned. My friend bought a Ford 350 diesel 2 months ago. She had it "plugged in" over night. She awoke in the morning to find it on fire next to her house (not arson). The insurance co. determined that the cause of the fire was electrical.....she hadn't run it in 48 hours. So my gut instinct was to say that SHE did something wrong...until I heard a story from a neighbor a mile away that said that he had his Ford diesel plugged in a year ago and walked by to find the front plastic grill on fire where the wire comes out for the plug in. So now I'm a little nervous if this is a pattern or if I just live in the Bermuda triangle for Ford diesels? Ford Co. wouldn't even TALK to my friend that had the total loss....no comment other than "see your insurance agent". So the fact that they won't talk makes me a little nervous for some reason. Anyone else ever had a problem with the plastic grills catching on fire where the cord comes out to plug in or fires from plugging in diesels at all?

Thanks.
Lory - still driving the '83 F250 4x4 but now looking for something with air conditioning that handles/steers better....

 

Lory;

First off welcome to the greatest site around.

Secondly, I've got an f-250 diesel and i've never had a problem with the plug-in. Also I've searched the sites for awhile and I've never heard of a problem with fires from them being pluged in. I love my truck and would recommend them to anyone

Jim.




2000 F-250 XLT SUPERCAB 7.3 PSD 4X4 AUTO, LIGHTED MOON VISOR, ROLL TOP COVER, SMITTY BUILT BRUSH GUARD, BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL. I JUST LOVE A FORD TRUCK.

 

I plug mine in during the winter and cord is hardly warm to the touch when I unplug it. I wonder if the extension cord was under rated and not heavy enough gauge to handle the load.

alanscott

[link:ford-trucks.com/users/alanscott/|http://www.ford-trucks.net/users/alanscott/clubftesml.jpg]...Click!

 

I was thinking about the rating of the extension cord....but doesn't that hook in at a point 3" out from the grill? I guess IT could have gotten hot enough to compromise the integrity of the Ford cord....yeah, that sounds pretty good to me. Plus it had all night to degrade into a fire. So I guess I'll go ahead with my plans to purchase a new truck and continue to pursue the diesel. I too have searched the site for any discussion of fires in diesels and have come up with nothing. Thanks!!

Lory

 

I've been driving 2 company Powerstrokes and my personal Powerstroke for the last 6 years and never had a problem with the engine heater in any of them. They are a 95, 97 and my 99.

Les

 

i had my truck plugged in for over 5 dyas straight up in the northeast. i hardly doubt it was the truck, it may have started on her cord or something else. good luck

-Jacksland