94 Ranger Heaterbox Fire?
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94 Ranger Heaterbox Fire?
Hello -I'm new to this forum, and like the great advice ...My 94 2wd ext cab 2.3 had a disastrous fire a week ago that started in the heater core box. The entire box burned/melted away, along with the headliner, seats, windshield(cracked), and A-piller moulding.The truck is about two years new to me, bought from original owners with all service records, etc., with 78k. Now at 94k, this great deal of a truck is sitting like a burned marshmallow in my shop. Does anyone have a similar problem, or more importantly, a source on a new or used dash harness? The fire claimed the hood and all heater parts under as well. Suprisingly, the engine only suffered a melted intake box and washerbottle, and the heater core itself and hoses are fine. I couldn't find a recall on this problem, but would appreciate ANY help. Thanks....
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From: Greenville, In.
I suggest you start your search at a salvage yard and buy a whole cab minus the hood, fenders and doors. Pick off the parts you need and scrap the rest.
Last edited by IB Tim; Dec 31, 2005 at 02:17 PM.
Laughing Gas
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My guess is that the dropping resistors for the blower fan shorted out and caused the fire. They're exposed inside the plenum right ahead of the heater core and A/C evaporator to help cool them. I doubt there has ever been a recall or TSB on this issue. That setup is common across many vehicle lines and manufacturers. In your case, its probably just an instance of bad luck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Eastern WA
Well, anything can be fixed given time and enough money; from your description of the damage this one would probably be best to let go (ie, totaled). By the time you are done buying parts and then installing them (don't forget the cleanup, seals A/R, repainting), you could have another Ranger. Maybe consider trying to find a newer one that could use your motor (assuming it didn't ingest water in the course of extinguishing the fire).
Last edited by CowboyBilly9Mile; Jan 1, 2006 at 02:50 AM.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Northern Maine
I agree with Cowboybilly. From what you have explained, the damage was extensive. Even if you can find everything that you need second hand, the price for the parts will still be quite high and getting the odor of burnt upholstery out will be almost impossible. The time involved for the repair would have to be doubled. Remember that you will have to remove the parts from two trucks and install them back into one. I would seriously look around for another truck the same year as yours and with the same equipment. Like Cowboybilly suggested you could keep yours for spare parts. Were you covered by insurance? Some folks don’t carry collision on older vehicles (I don’t) but they do have a comprehensive plan to cover broken windshields (I do). Those plans often covers a fire and other such incidents that are considered Acts of God. (Like when a tree falls on your truck or you strike a wild animal). Good luck.
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Thanks for the tips...I didn't have full coverage, but I guarantee the next one will. being an autoglass technician by day, I already pulled the windshield, which led to the headliner, seats, carpet, and glovebox door ( what was left of it ). The heater plenum seemed to be the majority of the damage that I can't easily locate at local wrecking yards. After cleaning up the engine compartment, only the airbox and it's attatched sensor (MAF?) got a little heat distortion. After pulling all the burnt wires under the dash at the heater, I got out the fire extinguisher, plugged the battery back in, and turned the key... The engine turns over, and wants to srart, but I seem to have a fuel problem. Is there a fuel shut off relay under the carpet? My Haynes manual was part of the fire, and don't have a reference book. Anyhow, I'm going to keep after it until I get to a point I can't get past without spending money...Thanks again
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I also had a minor fire related to the heater/blower motor.[U]. My fire was very minor because I noticed smoke and imeadiatly turned off the blower.
The source,
leaves got sucked into the blower motor by way of a 6 inch piece of rubber tubing leading from the blower motor body to the A/C ducting. These leaves then got caught up in the internal components of the "electric blower motor" and caused a fire.
The Fix
after throughly cleaning the entire A/c system of leaves...
find some scrap metal window screen and push it into the rubber tube that connects the motor to the duct. This will prevent any leaves from entering the motor ,but, it will allow air pass and to cool (i'm assuming) the motor.
The source,
leaves got sucked into the blower motor by way of a 6 inch piece of rubber tubing leading from the blower motor body to the A/C ducting. These leaves then got caught up in the internal components of the "electric blower motor" and caused a fire.
The Fix
after throughly cleaning the entire A/c system of leaves...
find some scrap metal window screen and push it into the rubber tube that connects the motor to the duct. This will prevent any leaves from entering the motor ,but, it will allow air pass and to cool (i'm assuming) the motor.
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From: St. Peter
same thing happened to my 85 F150 as i was driving it, smelled burining leaves and stuff, but thought it was a farmer lighting up a burn pile, well, tehn a few seconds later, smoke started coming out of the vents, so i turned off the truck and coasted onto the shoulder and smoke was coming out of the vents where the windshield washer was. No flames, just smoke. I'm guessing leaves and possibly part of a rats nest was the culprit, i have to take it apart to find out though. Whatever it was, it must be clogging up my air selector, because no matter if i'm on defrost, floor, or vent, it always pushes it out on vent. then one day it just changed and a bunch of burned rats nest came out the vents, and then it was stuck on vent again. so we'll see.
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From: Centerton, AR
I was driving down the road one day in my 77 Explorer and smelled what I thought was somebody burning trash. I had my AC crankin and about 15 seconds later smoke started pouring out the vents. Turns out it was that little metal box with resistors and stuff inside it that mounts up under the dash. I figured this out AFTER I replaced my blower motor.