burned up
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
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burned up
My 76 250 camper special burned up 
yesterday on the way into work. I think the fire started in the heater blower motor, it quickly spread to the heating ductwork (plastic) and under the dash. I ended up putting it out with a fire extinguisher but it fired some of the wiring on the passenger side under the dash.
What wiring is on the passenger side under the dash?
Anybody know what the 2"x3" silver box under the dash, with ignition wires going into is?
I will tow her home in the morning, then I need to assess the damage, it looks like I definitely lost the windshield, dash, heater components and ducting, and some wiring, now I have got to decde if i want to rebuild.
yesterday on the way into work. I think the fire started in the heater blower motor, it quickly spread to the heating ductwork (plastic) and under the dash. I ended up putting it out with a fire extinguisher but it fired some of the wiring on the passenger side under the dash.What wiring is on the passenger side under the dash?
Anybody know what the 2"x3" silver box under the dash, with ignition wires going into is?
I will tow her home in the morning, then I need to assess the damage, it looks like I definitely lost the windshield, dash, heater components and ducting, and some wiring, now I have got to decde if i want to rebuild.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 997
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From: texarkana, tx
burned up
russellkr --
Sorry to hear about your truck. Good ole faithful Harrison became a weeny roaster the other day, too....EXACTLY from what YOU had a problem with!!
I had just turned on the defroster after leaving work and saw flames and sparks shooting out of the defroster vents and I pulled over and disconnected the battery VERY quickly and waited about 5 minutes in the rain. I then reconnected the cable and drive home in the rain with no fan ( no more fire and smoke ). Got home to find leaves over the three-resistor-array that Ford so thoughfully put INSIDE the heater box --- leaves were on it creating the fire!! So I pulled the defrost assembly and cleared the unit and the heater box and cleared both sides of the channels inside of Harrison's panels; no more fire. Thank goodness my quick thinking allowed me to disconnect the battery!!
Good luck with your repairs ...
Sorry to hear about your truck. Good ole faithful Harrison became a weeny roaster the other day, too....EXACTLY from what YOU had a problem with!!
I had just turned on the defroster after leaving work and saw flames and sparks shooting out of the defroster vents and I pulled over and disconnected the battery VERY quickly and waited about 5 minutes in the rain. I then reconnected the cable and drive home in the rain with no fan ( no more fire and smoke ). Got home to find leaves over the three-resistor-array that Ford so thoughfully put INSIDE the heater box --- leaves were on it creating the fire!! So I pulled the defrost assembly and cleared the unit and the heater box and cleared both sides of the channels inside of Harrison's panels; no more fire. Thank goodness my quick thinking allowed me to disconnect the battery!!
Good luck with your repairs ...
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,628
Likes: 345
From: Albuquerque
burned up
Jeez! You guys got me paranoid now. And I already had several people following me around.
Seriously I'm sorry to hear about the problems. Do you think leaves are comming in the cowl vent? I might invest in a quick disconnect for the battery.
Seriously I'm sorry to hear about the problems. Do you think leaves are comming in the cowl vent? I might invest in a quick disconnect for the battery.
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Senior User
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burned up
I dont think that it was leaves because I smelled the distinct oder of insulation burning right at the onset of the fire. when things were finally out I lokked under the dash and saw what looked to be a heating element hanging down, could this have been the resistors you are talking about?
Also, a couple of weeks ago I posted a question about the blower motor making noise, and got several replys to not worry about it, that it was just a bearing. Well if your fan or heating is making any noise at all you should check it thoroughly, I could have disconected the power to the system and things wouldn't have burned.
Oh Well- you live and you learn
Also, a couple of weeks ago I posted a question about the blower motor making noise, and got several replys to not worry about it, that it was just a bearing. Well if your fan or heating is making any noise at all you should check it thoroughly, I could have disconected the power to the system and things wouldn't have burned.
Oh Well- you live and you learn
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 997
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From: texarkana, tx
burned up
russellkr --
Exactomundo...the 3 resistors / wire windings control the speed of the fan through increased resistance...this also creates heat. For some ungodly reason Ford stuck this thing INSIDE the heater box!!?!! Your actual heat is created by the hot water running through the heater core -- the "heating element" is really 3 resistors / wound wire that provide different currents to the fan motor...
Bear traks ---
Indeed....ALL OF YOU OUT THERE...KLEEN your cowl vents!!
Exactomundo...the 3 resistors / wire windings control the speed of the fan through increased resistance...this also creates heat. For some ungodly reason Ford stuck this thing INSIDE the heater box!!?!! Your actual heat is created by the hot water running through the heater core -- the "heating element" is really 3 resistors / wound wire that provide different currents to the fan motor...
Bear traks ---
Indeed....ALL OF YOU OUT THERE...KLEEN your cowl vents!!
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92
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From: Renfrew Canada
burned up
Tough break, at least you saved the truck from burning completely.
I've had problems with mice building nests in heating ducts, the like all kinds of flamable stuff to live in. Probaly more likely than leaves.
I've had problems with mice building nests in heating ducts, the like all kinds of flamable stuff to live in. Probaly more likely than leaves.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,258
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From: clementsport canada
burned up
well luckly you saved the truck, personally i'd rebuild. there's only so many wires in these trucks... lol
as a fire fighter, you beat the odds and put the fire out, normally motor vechial fires are total write offs they burn so fast. Its nice to see i'm not the only one who carries a fire extingusher, and i'd recomend everyone to carry one.
the reason that ford put that resistor in the heater duct, is to ensure air flow over it to prevent it from burning out too quickly, and they still do this (to my knowlage) my 89 ranger is that way, and so's dad's 88 grand marquis. you best bet is to find a donor truck in the junk yard and get the heater, dash, glove box, and all the wiring you need, this should also help you to see where all the wires goto.... good luck
as a fire fighter, you beat the odds and put the fire out, normally motor vechial fires are total write offs they burn so fast. Its nice to see i'm not the only one who carries a fire extingusher, and i'd recomend everyone to carry one.
the reason that ford put that resistor in the heater duct, is to ensure air flow over it to prevent it from burning out too quickly, and they still do this (to my knowlage) my 89 ranger is that way, and so's dad's 88 grand marquis. you best bet is to find a donor truck in the junk yard and get the heater, dash, glove box, and all the wiring you need, this should also help you to see where all the wires goto.... good luck
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Apple Valley CA USA
burned up
for those who have asked i can explain why ford put the resistor assembly inside the heater box. it happens to be the best and safest place to put it. if you put it anywhere else you run the risk of overheating it and starting a fire. the heater box should not have any debris in it in the first place so you should look into that before you point fingers. the only way i know to get leaves into the heater box is if your lower cowl has plugged up and i would expect to see some water related problems if that happens. the resister controls fan speed and doing so creates a huge amount of heat. it has to be mounted where it will not come into contact with any flamables and where air will cool it. thus the inside of the heater box is an ideal home for it. there should not be anything but air in the box and even when the heat is on the air is not much over 100 degrees which is fine to cool off a resister at 200 degrees! hawkrod
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Posting Legend
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burned up
I looked back to see your post, you did get bad advice, worth just what you paid for it... I'm sorry.
I am sorry I did not see that post. Someone else posted here with a similar problem and I told them what the problem was and how to fix it.
Hawk and the Bull have the proper explanations of why and how that resistor setup works. Most OEM's do it the same way.
Remember that these trucks were designed to last thru the warranty period and the rest is considered gravy. None of the US OEM's give any consideration for their vehicles lasting more than 10 years, some of ours are pushing 30 now.
What would these trucks have been like if they had been made out of Stainless Steel like a DeLorean? I have heard that the OEM's are considering going to SS for some parts because they can make them lighter and still save weight for fuel economy (CAFE) reasons since they do not have to figure in a corrosion allowance on the steel part thickness. The reason they went to SS for a lot of exhaust system parts is not to make them last longer but to save weight (CAFE).
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I am sorry I did not see that post. Someone else posted here with a similar problem and I told them what the problem was and how to fix it.
Hawk and the Bull have the proper explanations of why and how that resistor setup works. Most OEM's do it the same way.
Remember that these trucks were designed to last thru the warranty period and the rest is considered gravy. None of the US OEM's give any consideration for their vehicles lasting more than 10 years, some of ours are pushing 30 now.
What would these trucks have been like if they had been made out of Stainless Steel like a DeLorean? I have heard that the OEM's are considering going to SS for some parts because they can make them lighter and still save weight for fuel economy (CAFE) reasons since they do not have to figure in a corrosion allowance on the steel part thickness. The reason they went to SS for a lot of exhaust system parts is not to make them last longer but to save weight (CAFE).
Thanks for using FTE!
[font color=red]As a Moderator I do not "Subscribe" to most topics,
please send email/pm if you need a reply -Thanks![/font]
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