VM Motori CRD engines, unexplained fires in London cabs

Dutchy · **Posted:** Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:59 am

I don't know if we have to be worried but these TX4 black cabs use the 2.5 CRD VM Motori units, basicly the same units as our 2.5 and 2.8 CRD units.

The fire starts in the engine bay and spreads over the whole car within 45 secs, they are recalled today and experts are looking into this.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... cerns.html

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:46 am

The big difference we've noticed on 2.5 vs 2.8 is the fuel head - 2.5 has a metal Racor style unit - 2.8 had a molded plastic puc with the fuel heater installed - and it overheats.

I wonder if they used the plastic fuel head on the newer 2.5's

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:03 pm

Off topic but I wouldn't mind one of these buggers.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:39 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

The big difference we've noticed on 2.5 vs 2.8 is the fuel head - 2.5 has a metal Racor style unit - 2.8 had a molded plastic puc with the fuel heater installed - and it overheats.

I wonder if they used the plastic fuel head on the newer 2.5's

No, even the older 2.8s had the racor filter head. All 2005+ have the plastic head.

Khaki-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:14 pm

Maximum Carnage wrote:

Off topic but I wouldn't mind one of these buggers.

There is a company that actually sells these. You can also get the old New York Checker cabs still. Not sure if the company still makes new ones, or if they are refurbished now. Funny thing, in both cases the main buyers are wealthy individuals and companies that use them as fleet vehicles to move around inconspicously.

dgeist · **Posted:** Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:06 pm

Khaki-KJ wrote:

Maximum Carnage wrote:

Off topic but I wouldn't mind one of these buggers.

There is a company that actually sells these. You can also get the old New York Checker cabs still. Not sure if the company still makes new ones, or if they are refurbished now. Funny thing, in both cases the main buyers are wealthy individuals and companies that use them as fleet vehicles to move around inconspicously.

SuperNanny has one

Also, there are some cab companies that are using them as product differentiation....they claim the increase in business and the reduction in maintenance costs easily cover the higher initial outlay for the vehicles.
http://www.london-fleet.com/

P.S. the new ones don't use VM engines, they have the 2.4l ford "puma" diesel just like the new LandRover Defenders and euro ford transport vans.
Dan

InCommando · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2008 5:01 pm

Most of the usual Dieselers are absent from this thread....

EDIT: SEE BELOW

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2008 5:15 pm

If mine catches fire, I kow my bumpers and roof rack will survive. As long as they can be salvaged, I can always rebuild!

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:15 pm

InCommando wrote:

Most of the usual Dieselers are absent from this thread....

Seriously, though, this is such a statistically small batch of vehicles that it should be no cause for concern in a KJ. It looks like a cab-specific issue.

It's posted in General - lots of CRDer's don't even know this section exists

7 fires in London and 11 in the rest of the country - if that's out of 600 - that's fairly significant.

and if it's the VM Motori engine - thats the same as the CRD so that's concerning -
however if it's the Ford - they won't sell their automotive Diesels in the US.

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

It is likely the fuel filter head. Known issue here, but the NTSB decided not to do anything about it. Maybe now they will reconsider. Regardless, there is a work around (make sure your fuel heater connection is not leaking or getting warm).

InCommando · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:23 pm

[quote="ATXKJ
It's posted in General - lots of CRDer's don't even know this section exists

[/quote]

Not that that is a bad thing..... :shock:

Actually, I missed the #'s. That indeed represents a very significant problem and risk.

jdorris · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:41 am

Man, I have been away from the board for a while. I didn't realize CRD bashing had become such a sport.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:50 am

jdorris wrote:

Man, I have been away from the board for a while. I didn't realize CRD bashing had become such a sport.

yeah kk bashing is out of season :lol:

mrkake · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:41 am

They're all just jealous that of the torque and mileage that we have and they don't :wink:

Oh yea and ours spontaneously combust and their's don't :roll:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:46 am

Just to make the obvious point - there have been no fires associated with the Jeep install - just leaks.
- if the London Cabs have the same fuel heads and are catching on fire -
then they have the fuel head located somewhere that diesel could drip on a live wire/spark/heat source.
it's not easy for diesel to catch on fire - no where near as dangerous as gas

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 11:54 am

InCommando wrote:

Most of the usual Dieselers are absent from this thread....

Ya, because there is about zero correlation between the two.

The engine has very little to do with the fire, its all the supporting accessories that will. Anyone that can't understand that, or refuses to understand that, has the intelligence of a stapler.

InCommando · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:06 pm

Pablo wrote:

It is likely the fuel filter head. Known issue here, but the NTSB decided not to do anything about it. Maybe now they will reconsider. Regardless, there is a work around (make sure your fuel heater connection is not leaking or getting warm).

Zero correlation. Gotcha. :mrgreen:

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:44 pm

InCommando wrote:

Pablo wrote:

It is likely the fuel filter head. Known issue here, but the NTSB decided not to do anything about it. Maybe now they will reconsider. Regardless, there is a work around (make sure your fuel heater connection is not leaking or getting warm).

Zero correlation. Gotcha. :mrgreen:

Are you seriously that dense? 30 million sperm and your the one that got through?

InCommando · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:17 pm

Sammy, maybe you should qoute Pablo & point out to Him that there is no correlation?

I am well aware of the "elitist" attitude that many dieselers have, you do not need to drag it off of your little corner of the world. I am also aware that those same people believe that anyone who does not drink the kool-aid proferred at the lil' church o' the CRD is assumed to be dense or a lesser person. Nope. I tend to think that not being a sheeple actually shows more reasoning ability.

They fact that you choose to attack me rather than your posting-paco Pablo seems to provide a sound indication of which camp you fall into, Sam.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:27 pm

InCommando wrote:

Sammy, maybe you should qoute Pablo & point out to Him that there is no correlation?

And I already have pointed out that what Pablo posted was incorrect. Yet you seem to keep going back to it and latching on to it.

Pablo got it, YOU didn't.

Seriously it that how dense you are?

VM Motori CRD engines, unexplained fires in London cabs

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