Why you need to carry a fire extinguisher!

FreeJeep · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:04 pm

Wife was driving down the road, heard a "POP" and the Jeep died. Smoke was coming out from under the hood. She thought it was the radiator, but grabbed the fire extinguisher as my daughter got my 3yr old out of the Jeep. Needless to say, was a good thing she did. The positive wire coming off the battery wore throught the insulation and started a fire. She put it out before too much was damaged.

Jeep is sitting at the dealer. I was going to try to fix it, but not worth it since it covered by comp on my auto insurance and who knows what all is toasted.

Have you checked you battery cables lately?

DonC

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:33 pm

I have mine mounted! It looks like there isn't a lot of damage thought. That's good!

Terry

Chief BK · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:10 pm

Great topic and hopefully there isn't much damage.
Since this has been brought up, who has extinguishers and where do you have them mounted. I've had one for about two weeks and have been debating on mount location.

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:14 pm

I've been saying for years i'm getting a fire extinguisher for each one of my rigs. I'm going tomorrow morning and getting them after seeing this.

Fouros · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:35 pm

one in the back on the cargo barrier and one jammed down by the drivers seat

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:10 pm

Under the passenger seat. Do a search. There have been many threads on this topic.

**Search Tip** type the word "and" between each keyword.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:11 pm

Well from the pics if it is repaired correctly your looking at at least $2000-$3000 in damage.

501 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:30 am

Sorry to hear about the KJ , but glad to hear everyone is alright. Sounds like you have a very responsible daughter grabbing your 3 yr old out liike that!

I'll be checking my cables this weekend!!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:10 am

Glad no one was hurt and that your wife thought that like. Most women would freak out and run.

Why does it look like there is a red wire going from the negative terminal to the positive terminal?

Xodius · **Posted:** Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:26 pm

EEK. I am a little leary of batteries since I had mine explode about a year ago. Scared the hell out of me, I took the top darn nearly completely off and had several scares in my paint from it. Luckily I was in the drivers seat when it happened.

I am kind of curious though...why an optima blue? Are they not for Marine applications?

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:58 pm

Impressive response from your wife and daughter - I'm glad no one was hurt.

jeepmedic46 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:16 pm

Glad no one was hurt, I have a fire extinquisher mounted in the back.

xturboexpress · **Joined:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:43 am **Posts:** 75

My girlfriend would have got out, cried, and watched it burn.

Good job picking the wifey.

and the kj.

FreeJeep · **Posted:** Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:32 pm

Ya, I agree. My wife did good! At last count, talking about $4500 to fix, not counting any damage to after market items. Gona be covered by insurance.

The red wire isn't attached to the negative, just looks that way in the pics

I went with the blue top since my Jeep tends to confront alot of the same conditions as a boat: lots of bouncing around and current draw when the engine isn't running. Figured it couldn't hurt.

DonC

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:48 pm

I now have two fire extinguishers in my jeep due to this thread

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:30 pm

I just realized this was you Don! I didnt really look at who posted it the first time by.

Glad its all covered by the insurance!

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:35 pm

Next mod: Mount fire bottles and train with wifey on usage.

QuestMan · **Posted:** Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:28 pm

I carry one under the driver's seat: I've done so ever since one time, in my postal jeep.

I was in northern MI, LATE in the fall: I woke up one morning, due to a storm. The wind had torn the stakes out of the tent corners, the temperature had dropped to just above freezing, and the rain had started turning to snow. I started the Postal, so it could warm up (I use the term 'warm', very loosely, since it WAS a postal jeep).

It, of course, stalled, while I was wadding up the sleeping bag and tent to throw into the back. When I was finished, I tried to re-start it. That's when I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I opened up the hood, and noticed the ground wire for the starter relay was on fire. I calmly reached in, turned off the ignition, and the fire went away. However, the ground wire for the relay had burned in two. I was able to talk to a ranger, and get another wire from their shed, then rewire it.

However, the next time I tried to start the jeep, the smoke started coming from UNDER the dashboard. I calmly turned it off, walked to the nearest pay phone, and called for a tow. 3 hours, some ramen noodles and hot chocolate later, the tow truck driver arrived, took one look at me, and said, "YOU? Again?!" :roll:

(As strange as this may seem, I did indeed end up stranded once or twice while in the Postal :shock:

)

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Why you need to carry a fire extinguisher!

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