Dash destroyed in electrical fire. - Page 4 - Toyota Yaris Forums

SilverBack · 11-06-2008, 06:31 PM

Hmm, that's a stumper...

deadworld · 11-06-2008, 07:25 PM

batteries exploding will just corrode not cause fire unless it corrodes smtg to start fire

purpleminx · 11-07-2008, 03:25 PM

For anyone who wanted to know, I heard back from Toyota yesterday. What they told me was along the lines of, "Toyota is not at fault, but we don't know what is" so I asked them if they had ripped the dash apart to take a look inside. The answer was no.

Apparantly all they did was look at it, look at the fuse box, and decide they had nothing to do with it. They said if I wanted more than that, I'd have to talk my insurance company, which is nonsensical. It's as if they don't want to prove that it was them, they want someone else to do it.

The insurance company has taken the car back to its assessment centre. They're not happy. They're calling in an electrician and an engineer. The saga continues!

CTScott · 11-07-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purpleminx

For anyone who wanted to know, I heard back from Toyota yesterday. What they told me was along the lines of, "Toyota is not at fault, but we don't know what is" so I asked them if they had ripped the dash apart to take a look inside. The answer was no.

Apparantly all they did was look at it, look at the fuse box, and decide they had nothing to do with it. They said if I wanted more than that, I'd have to talk my insurance company, which is nonsensical. It's as if they don't want to prove that it was them, they want someone else to do it.

The insurance company has taken the car back to its assessment centre. They're not happy. They're calling in an electrician and an engineer. The saga continues!

From my experience with analyzing catastrophic electrical failures on machinery, the origin is typically where the maximum amount of charring (or complete combustion of combustible material) has occurred. In your case it looks like that point is the area completely devoid of plastic, directly left of the radio volume knob by approximately 15cm.

I still want to see what is under that part of the dash on the "down under" Yaris. Can someone else from Australia snap some pictures up under the dash (Lay on the floor and snap a few up in the area mentioned above)?

nsmitchell · 11-07-2008, 03:52 PM

Were you listening to an AC/DC music, or maybe Judas Priest?

Bob_VT · 11-07-2008, 04:30 PM

I know that alot of us are interested in this topic. Thanks for the update.

floydisrock · 11-07-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purpleminx

For anyone who wanted to know, I heard back from Toyota yesterday. What they told me was along the lines of, "Toyota is not at fault, but we don't know what is" so I asked them if they had ripped the dash apart to take a look inside. The answer was no.

Apparantly all they did was look at it, look at the fuse box, and decide they had nothing to do with it. They said if I wanted more than that, I'd have to talk my insurance company, which is nonsensical. It's as if they don't want to prove that it was them, they want someone else to do it.

The insurance company has taken the car back to its assessment centre. They're not happy. They're calling in an electrician and an engineer. The saga continues!

Care to share who your insurance company is?

purpleminx · 11-08-2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floydisrock

Care to share who your insurance company is?

AAMI

Mordarvia · 11-08-2008, 06:44 AM

Cigarettes in the ashtray. I know they may be out and had nothing to do with the fire. but as soon as the dealership see's that. Your automatically at fault in there eyes. I'm a smoker man I know how it feels. But I don't smoke in the car thats just gross :). Same thing lets say your house goes up in flames because your stove was screwed. If the insurance company finds out your a smoker its a 10X more hassle getting cash from them. Just reality

ddongbap · 11-08-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordarvia

Cigarettes in the ashtray. I know they may be out and had nothing to do with the fire. but as soon as the dealership see's that. Your automatically at fault in there eyes. I'm a smoker man I know how it feels. But I don't smoke in the car thats just gross :). Same thing lets say your house goes up in flames because your stove was screwed. If the insurance company finds out your a smoker its a 10X more hassle getting cash from them. Just reality

An electrical fire is totally different than a non-electrical fire.

SilverBack · 11-08-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purpleminx

First off, sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place.

I'm a new poster who's looking for some idea or advice on what happened to my own little 2006 Yaris. I figured the people here were the best to ask considering Toyota hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Long story short... On Thursday when I returned to a car park somebody told me my car was on fire. When the fire department got there they said that it was an electrical fire, and that they couldn't pinpoint what started it.

I KNOW that I left NOTHING in the car that could have done this, and I've NEVER installed anything in the car. All services have been done by Toyota. A friend suggested that a short circuit sparked, lit the synthetic carpet on fire which then set the dash alight.

The windshield shattered and the entire car is smoke damaged. I have a pretty wicked tint job going on right now.

If anyone here has seen this before, or heard of it before, or knows just exactly what Toyota will do considering it's still under warranty (and definitely a write off), I'd greatly appreciate their input.

Any news yet of what caused it?

firemachine69 · 11-08-2008, 08:17 PM

Take the dealership to court. Shouldn't be too hard of a sell to win your case.

b_hickman11 · 11-09-2008, 10:46 AM

probably your cabin air filter clogged up.....

firemachine69 · 11-09-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auxmike

Did the flashlight use Lithium batteries?
I have a small Streamlight Scorpion in my glovebox right now. I left it on while it was standing upright on it's lens on a table, the lens started to melt! Those lights run HOT. After seeing this, I'm removing my Scorp from the car in the morning.....

I'd check to see that your Scorp is legit. IIRC, they have a glass lense.

auxmike · 11-09-2008, 12:57 PM

About the Streamlight;
The lens appears to be a clear plastic of some sort. I bought it from Texas Tactical Supply, it's the real deal. Nice torch, but it eats through Li batts. like crazy....

After reading this thread, I went right to the glovebox and removed it from the YARIS.

I'll be using an LED MiniMag from now on.

rob323 · 12-10-2008, 03:37 PM

Purpleminx, any updates on whether the cause of the fire was pinpointed yet?

YarisSedan · 12-11-2008, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auxmike

About the Streamlight;
The lens appears to be a clear plastic of some sort. I bought it from Texas Tactical Supply, it's the real deal. Nice torch, but it eats through Li batts. like crazy....

After reading this thread, I went right to the glovebox and removed it from the YARIS.

I'll be using an LED MiniMag from now on.

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/cosll7742.html

I am a mechanic and keep this on my belt every day. Lasts about 2 weeks before i needs to be charged. Keep in mind it has daily use sometimes for a hour at a time. And have had it for a year so far. Battery hasnt really got weak yet. And its insanely bright. Its dropped on the floor multiple times and got run over by a car too =).

TinyGiant · 12-11-2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordarvia

I'm a smoker man I know how it feels. But I don't smoke in the car thats just gross :).

lol and smoking in general isnt?

11-06-2008, 06:31 PM	#55
SilverBack Joey View User's Garage Drives: '14 Scion xD 5-speed Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: El Monte, Ca Posts: 3,529	Hmm, that's a stumper... __________________ Formerly owned Met-Met. '07 Yaris LB 5-speed. A forum post should be like a skirt: Long enough to cover the subject but short enough to keep things interesting. "I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem." -Hank Hill

11-07-2008, 03:52 PM	#59
nsmitchell View User's Garage Drives: LB-Auto-PWR-ABS-Cruise-Springs Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,065	Were you listening to an AC/DC music, or maybe Judas Priest? __________________ Other car is a 2005 Mustang Convertible 4.0L V6 Manual - Legend Lime Get YarAss in gear! RIP - Casey Tatum

11-07-2008, 04:30 PM	#60
Bob_VT View User's Garage Drives: 08 Yaris LB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,704	I know that alot of us are interested in this topic. Thanks for the update. __________________ some people are little slinkies. . . . .they are really good for nothing. . . .but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. Come to the DARKSIDE..... We have candy

11-09-2008, 12:57 PM	#69
auxmike Drives: 2008 HB, A/T, Power W/L/M Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: LI, New Yawk Posts: 2,063	About the Streamlight; The lens appears to be a clear plastic of some sort. I bought it from Texas Tactical Supply, it's the real deal. Nice torch, but it eats through Li batts. like crazy.... After reading this thread, I went right to the glovebox and removed it from the YARIS. I'll be using an LED MiniMag from now on. Attached Images

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11-06-2008, 07:25 PM	#56
deadworld Drives: 2007 4dr yaris Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ny Posts: 32	batteries exploding will just corrode not cause fire unless it corrodes smtg to start fire

11-07-2008, 03:25 PM	#57
purpleminx Drives: '08 5DR Silver Yaris HB Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 13	For anyone who wanted to know, I heard back from Toyota yesterday. What they told me was along the lines of, "Toyota is not at fault, but we don't know what is" so I asked them if they had ripped the dash apart to take a look inside. The answer was no. Apparantly all they did was look at it, look at the fuse box, and decide they had nothing to do with it. They said if I wanted more than that, I'd have to talk my insurance company, which is nonsensical. It's as if they don't want to prove that it was them, they want someone else to do it. The insurance company has taken the car back to its assessment centre. They're not happy. They're calling in an electrician and an engineer. The saga continues!

11-08-2008, 06:44 AM	#63
Mordarvia Drives: 2009 Yaris Hatchback Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Haliburton Ontario Posts: 19	Cigarettes in the ashtray. I know they may be out and had nothing to do with the fire. but as soon as the dealership see's that. Your automatically at fault in there eyes. I'm a smoker man I know how it feels. But I don't smoke in the car thats just gross :). Same thing lets say your house goes up in flames because your stove was screwed. If the insurance company finds out your a smoker its a 10X more hassle getting cash from them. Just reality

11-08-2008, 08:17 PM	#66
firemachine69 School'er of hard knocks Drives: Silver Yaris 4dr. HB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sudbury, On Posts: 556	Take the dealership to court. Shouldn't be too hard of a sell to win your case.

11-09-2008, 10:46 AM	#67
b_hickman11 Drives: 08 Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 899	probably your cabin air filter clogged up.....

12-10-2008, 03:37 PM	#70
rob323 Don't drive it, RALLY it! Drives: 1999 echo PRC rally car Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Joyner, Brisbane Posts: 321	Purpleminx, any updates on whether the cause of the fire was pinpointed yet?