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05-14-2007, 04:21 PM
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#1 |
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Modded Moderator
Drives: 07 Toyota Yaris, 71 Galaxie Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Posts: 3,670
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Fine Chysler Engineering
I was driving my '89 Chrysler LeBaron GTC turbo convertible to go see my mom for mother's day towing a 600lb empty trailer. Had towed the trailer many times before empty and loaded on the 240mile round trip just fine in the car. It had 3" exhaust, T04 turbo, intercooler, 52mm TB, ported & polished, good for 30psi boost, strut bar and 17" aluminum wheels. Well, while I was going up my 2nd hill there was some faint whispy white steam/smoke (was smoke I found out) coming from the heater vent. I pulled over and it stopped. Ok, I kept going trying to find a turn around spot on the interstate when suddenly it got really bad. I pulled over and shut the engine off thinking I just overheated, even though my gages said I was fine. Well, the smoke started to get real bad, turned black and was billowing out of the defrost vents. I had my fire ext. ready just in case, when suddenly the windshield made a loud "pop" sound and shattered then it got really bad. I reached in to pull my keys out and the flames got bad. I ran uphill into the wind and watched my 400hp LeBaron go up in flames. Wasn't a engine fire, but it burnt from the firewall back completley. Had just put a new sound system in there, all lost. The trailer suffered some damage but is repairable with a little wiring, paint & wood. The car is not so lucky. Three of the wheels are ok, one melted off. For sale: 2.5L turbo engine, ported & polished, T04 turbo, intercooler (2.5" setup) and all piping included. Would even throw the 3 wheels in, $1,500 obo, lol. I'm sad the car is gone now, but after my third daimier/chrysler problem, I've had it. I might save the intercooler for turboing the yaris, but will probably sell it all.
  http://a196.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...f7dc862e03.jpg  http://a971.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...783e3511ba.jpg http://a441.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...a2fe078380.jpg     EDIT: One of the nice people who stopped to see if I was OK (after 15 minutes of fireball) was a red Yaris LB from canada I think. It was the 3-door. I just wanted to say thanks! |
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05-14-2007, 04:32 PM
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#2 |
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That Anime Guy
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Holy hell. Any idea what caused the fire? Glad you came out of it unhurt.
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05-14-2007, 04:42 PM
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#3 |
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Lurker supreme!
Drives: old and boosted! Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Posts: 792
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OMG!!! Glad you're ok!
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2006 Red Blitzed RS 5-door |
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05-14-2007, 09:04 PM
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#4 |
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Modded Moderator
Drives: 07 Toyota Yaris, 71 Galaxie Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Posts: 3,670
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I think the turbo or exhaust got too hot, or there wasn't enough coolant or something... The turbo only sat maybe 3/4" from the firewall, but some heatshielding was put up to take care of that. I'm going to start pulling some parts off and putting it up on ebay, but it really sucks to lose such a fast car. Running it at 30psi boost it was untouchable, getting to 115mph in about 9 sec! Alas it won't be moving soon, until the wrecking yard comes to pick it up when I pull the engine. I thankfully didn't start a wildfire, the wind was going pretty good there. It's just amazing how well a car burns really. I wish I could have taken a video of what it was like.
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05-14-2007, 10:22 PM
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#5 |
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vroom vroom
Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 7,744
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Damn, that sucks, glad to hear you got out unscathed, though!
Chrysler: Our cars are on FIRE!
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The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson  Bye bye 1NZ... |
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05-15-2007, 12:09 PM
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#6 |
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Shiny Chromey Coolness
Drives: 2007 Toyota Yaris Liftback Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 982
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Spontaneous combustion? Was the Krysler running on the trailer? There goes the rich corinthian leather.
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Bringin the Bling to Yarisworld |
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05-15-2007, 12:19 PM
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#7 |
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Banned
Drives: LB Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: OH
Posts: 7,787
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The good news is they got bought out.
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05-15-2007, 12:30 PM
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#8 |
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Modded Moderator
Drives: 07 Toyota Yaris, 71 Galaxie Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Posts: 3,670
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No wonder chysler products have such low resale.
 Maybe I can rid myself of some salvageable parts on the Yahoo LeBaron group  I've had nothing but problems with the car since day 1, and so have the previous owners. So maybe this was a good thing because obviously I won't be dumping any more $$$ into it. More money for the yaris now! 
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05-15-2007, 12:55 PM
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#9 |
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Shiny Chromey Coolness
Drives: 2007 Toyota Yaris Liftback Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 982
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This would make a great new thread: Flaming domestic infernos!
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Bringin the Bling to Yarisworld |
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05-15-2007, 12:57 PM
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#10 | |
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Shiny Chromey Coolness
Drives: 2007 Toyota Yaris Liftback Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 982
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Quote:
There's a Yahoo LeBaron group? OMG. Ive heard it all now. 
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Bringin the Bling to Yarisworld |
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05-15-2007, 02:58 PM
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#11 | |
 
Drives: 2007 Yaris Sedan "D" package Join Date: May 2006
Location: Barrie, ontario
Posts: 852
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Quote:
sounds like the problem right there the new stereo.... |
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05-15-2007, 03:08 PM
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#12 |
 Drives: 2006 Yaris Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 203
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Oh man, that sucks. Glad to hear you are ok though.
.
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It's a red yaris 
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05-15-2007, 03:27 PM
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#13 |
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Glad that ur okay!!!
-- Blen
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http://www.360voice.com/tag/noobblenjar  My Car http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4245 My DJ www.PainlessWolf.com |
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05-16-2007, 01:08 AM
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#14 | |
Drives: Liftback Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 137
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...fire is more than a problem...
Quote:
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05-16-2007, 12:24 PM
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#15 | |
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GIGA...DRILL...BREAKER!!!
Drives: Lagann. ;P Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: My own little world.
Posts: 717
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Quote:
~YR
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Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet. 
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05-16-2007, 02:56 PM
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#16 |
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Modded Moderator
Drives: 07 Toyota Yaris, 71 Galaxie Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Posts: 3,670
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It wasn't a nice stereo by any means. I spent about $80 for a generic MP3 head unit at wal-mart, and had some 5.25" sony speakers in the doors and the back. I'm glad my stereo loss was about $150 and not more. More upset over the loss of my Jack Johnson CD, as well as my green day, gnarles barkley & such. All I could do as it burned was watch, and shake my head that people were actually driving so close to the car and not getting in the other lane. Someone in a kia rio actually drove though the flames, instead of pulling over to the next lane. Dumbass.
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05-16-2007, 03:39 PM
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#17 |
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vroom vroom
Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 7,744
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maybe it was a head unit with integrated burner? literally?
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The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson Bye bye 1NZ... |
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05-16-2007, 03:53 PM
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#18 | |
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Shiny Chromey Coolness
Drives: 2007 Toyota Yaris Liftback Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 982
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Quote:
People are purebred idiots on the road today. Were you in Atlanta by chance?
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Bringin the Bling to Yarisworld |
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