Ford Everest catches fire on Test Drive

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by csv8

Toyota Prius has an Emergency Response Guide...
file:///C:/Users/Default.HP/Downloads/1%20%20Toyota%20Prius%20HEV%20ERG%201st%20Gen(1).p df

Just dont go near it if orange cables are exposed !!!!

Thanks mate, great article and very informative.

[csv8]

XR6 Martin link not working!! try this one http://newmarkettoyota.ca/hybrids/em...sponse-guides/

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

A couple of things there..........

1# Is an alarm system standard on the Ranger “My daughter heard the alarm go off first — the car was locked — and then saw it go up in flames,”
If not could it have been faulty alarm wiring.

2# If Mr Dowling spoke to both Ranger owners (who Ford said to use their Insurance) why did he not contact the insurance companies to see what they found out as to the cause of the fires.

I guess investigative journalism isn't in his CV .

Yes they have an alarm.

[naddis01]

Just looking at the photo of the burnt Ranger, on the right hand side (neg) of the battery, are those 2 wires coming from the terminal? If so, mine does not have that. You are also meant to earth to the chassis not to the battery. Maybe aftermarket modifications are the cause in that case.

[GTLEGEND]

Originally Posted by naddis01

image
Just looking at the photo of the burnt Ranger, on the right hand side (neg) of the battery, are those 2 wires coming from the terminal? If so, mine does not have that. You are also meant to earth to the chassis not to the battery. Maybe aftermarket modifications are the cause in that case.

Good spotting naddis01!! But still they blame Ford. Since we dont yet know the cause of the Everest, no one should really comment. too many what ifs? Just a scenario, what if the last mechanic accidently left off the oil cap, oil on exhaust...fire.

No body blamed the aftermarket or owner if it was their fault, just Ford!!

[XRtowcar]

Funny when the Holden Colorado had a recall for engine bay fires earlier this year, it wasn't beat up to include burning kiddies and explosions.
Just that Holden has a recall like every other car manufacturer, except they are first at that too.
Good old JD again.
http://www.news.com.au/finance/busin...31838551937e87
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...incidents.html

[Express]

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

C'mon it's Ford ..... they all do that don't they?????
That's what the Service Department keep saying.

I’m not so worried about the kiddies being roasted in the fire as we all know they taste better cooked.

If what you say is true and the Dealership won’t offer warranty as they consider it's normal and they all do that, what does concern me is I’ll be left driving around in a vehicle that’s showing obvious signs of a fault which will be poor for resale.

[Grunter]

I don't pretend to know, but aren't the Rangers electrical systems set up for aftermarket gear? And wouldn't there be some sort of built in fault protection if some gear is added on?

[cram_it_frog]

there is one thing about this item that brings to light and that is you need to be careful on who installs electrical accessories into your new car some one who does not know what they are doing can cause major problems

as i said the fire might be a ten cent part that may have been damaged by some one connecting the wrong wires

but this is not new the 70s model jags were built with dodgy electrical units and they caused so many problems

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by cram_it_frog

there is one thing about this item that brings to light and that is you need to be careful on who installs electrical accessories into your new car some one who does not know what they are doing can cause major problems

as i said the fire might be a ten cent part that may have been damaged by some one connecting the wrong wires

but this is not new the 70s model jags were built with dodgy electrical units and they caused so many problems

Yes, as I mentioned in another thread on this, and in my previous post here a couple of days ago, going by the escalating electrical problems he had before the fire, I wouldn't be surprised if the fire was caused by some temporary installation of equipment used for testing, hooked up to the battery.

[Ben73]

I would say cars of many different makes catch on fire for no apparent reason every single day somewhere in the world.
Most you will never hear about because it usually just happens to random citizens going about a normal day and not ones being test driven by people working for a major news website.
At the most if a random persons car catches on fire, news companies might write a short report with a few photos and maybe video attached.

Because this Everest has been widely publicize, disgruntled people who have had similar situations are likely to contact the news website to have a whinge. The journalist who wrote the original Everest article would want to add on to this story while it is still hot.
I bet if you bought a brand new Colorado, DMAX, Amarok which caught alright for no reason and contacted this news website today, they wouldn't care and wouldn't write a story about your car because it's not related to this story.

[Davehoos]

I was looking at the removed battery terminal. wondered when it had been removed and by who. I was recently lectured on what not to do at a suspicious fire scene and this ticks the box. isolate electrical gear normally remove the earth.

The workshops EX ranger it was hard to quickly remove the earth lead due to that smart charge sencor and tight installation.

Running a wire to the earth battery post is bad-however some equipment wont work connected to the chassis.

Originally Posted by Grunter

I don't pretend to know, but aren't the Rangers electrical systems set up for aftermarket gear? And wouldn't there be some sort of built in fault protection if some gear is added on?

I disappointed me that the ranger wasn't engineered to suit the application that a commercial work vehicle will require. Considering the advertising that these are locally developed to suit local needs. doesn't the engineering market department visit smaller operators.

Why the ranger etc dosnt have a ready to go beacon light- from assembly line is odd, infact it should big money spinner. falcon has wiring axcess in the B post. Everest will be used as a work truck requiring lights and items like fridge.

Plenty threads around the forums to read on questions over the last few years-dual batteries-smart charge, trailers and work and driving lights. The only fix I located was an expencive canbus stand alone system for mine ready and emergency service vehicles.

The LGA fleet I look after have all had to have radio and phones-beacon lights power outlets for aux equipment. items like aux odometers and gps related equipment. All fitted on the cheap and in a way that they can be removed without causing risk, many have to use the factory power outlet and plug boards but recently there has been a requirement for hard wired only equipment due to operator errors.

None of the vehicles we use offer factory look switch and harness. these are all contract sales so as long as the sales staff has no interest then I guess it wont be passed up the chain as a need.

Tractors and earthmoving gear supply this easily.
Toyota, hino and Isuzu dealer in our area all have tried to find me parts and would like to sell installation kits.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Ben73

I would say cars of many different makes catch on fire for no apparent reason every single day somewhere in the world.
Most you will never hear about because it usually just happens to random citizens going about a normal day and not ones being test driven by people working for a major news website.
At the most if a random persons car catches on fire, news companies might write a short report with a few photos and maybe video attached.

Because this Everest has been widely publicize, disgruntled people who have had similar situations are likely to contact the news website to have a whinge. The journalist who wrote the original Everest article would want to add on to this story while it is still hot.
I bet if you bought a brand new Colorado, DMAX, Amarok which caught alright for no reason and contacted this news website today, they wouldn't care and wouldn't write a story about your car because it's not related to this story.

Problems from accessories fitted are probably more common than we know, you only have to look at some of the dodgey wiring fitted to some gas installations, tow bar wiring , after market driving lights, etc, ..... bulldog motors .... rough rough,
it would certainly be nice if ford has not fitted some fool proof plug and play auxiliary wiring for accessories ................. to do so !
It would be another selling point too.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by Davehoos

I was looking at the removed battery terminal. wondered when it had been removed and by who. I was recently lectured on what not to do at a suspicious fire scene and this ticks the box. isolate electrical gear normally remove the earth.

The workshops EX ranger it was hard to quickly remove the earth lead due to that smart charge sencor and tight installation.

Running a wire to the earth battery post is bad-however some equipment wont work connected to the chassis.



I disappointed me that the ranger wasn't engineered to suit the application that a commercial work vehicle will require. Considering the advertising that these are locally developed to suit local needs. doesn't the engineering market department visit smaller operators.

Why the ranger etc dosnt have a ready to go beacon light- from assembly line is odd, infact it should big money spinner. falcon has wiring axcess in the B post. Everest will be used as a work truck requiring lights and items like fridge.

Plenty threads around the forums to read on questions over the last few years-dual batteries-smart charge, trailers and work and driving lights. The only fix I located was an expencive canbus stand alone system for mine ready and emergency service vehicles.

The LGA fleet I look after have all had to have radio and phones-beacon lights power outlets for aux equipment. items like aux odometers and gps related equipment. All fitted on the cheap and in a way that they can be removed without causing risk, many have to use the factory power outlet and plug boards but recently there has been a requirement for hard wired only equipment due to operator errors.

None of the vehicles we use offer factory look switch and harness. these are all contract sales so as long as the sales staff has no interest then I guess it wont be passed up the chain as a need.

Tractors and earthmoving gear supply this easily.
Toyota, hino and Isuzu dealer in our area all have tried to find me parts and would like to sell installation kits.

Maybe they should look at the Ranger XL Plus. It has most of the things you're asking for including duel battery set up and wiring for driving lights, work lights and beacons. It also has more aggressive tyres and canvas seat covers.

[Silver Ghia]

Result of Ford investigation into the cause of the fire.

No further action or recalls required.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business...a57c5236fe6d75

Everest or Ranger ute: fire was caused by a loose battery cable
December 8, 2015 6:33pm
JOSHUA DOWLINGNATIONAL MOTORING EDITORNews Corp Australia Network

The 2015 Ford Everest caught fire while being road tested by CarsGuide journalist Peter Barnwell. IT will go down in history as one of the unluckiest test drives of all time.

Ford says there is no need to issue a recall for 1000 Everest SUVs or 100,000 Ranger utes — made on the same production line — after an investigation found last week’s Everest fire was caused by a loose battery connection.

Ford says the problem is unique to the Everest road tested by News Corp Australia journalist Peter Barnwell because the battery had been replaced in Thailand after the early production vehicle sat in a compound near the end of the assembly line for two weeks.

The Ford Everest was one of the first 300 vehicles built, but the company has since inspected 2000 cars in Australia and overseas to ensure there is not a manufacturing fault.

“We are confident this is not a systemic failure, or a design defect, or something that has happened through the assembly of the vehicle,” said Ford Australia safety expert Andy Cooper. “It’s an unfortunate thing that someone has made a mistake. We’ve found no other instances and we think it’s very unlikely.”

Ford says it will not issue warnings to customers or make any changes to the owner’s manual because the problem occurred after a battery replacement.

[Mechan1k]

Also makes sense with the prior issues he was experiencing before the event as well.

[RealChampionSup]

Mmm, loose battery cable, my parents picked up a brand new focus less than a month ago (also built in Thailand) and we just so happened to find the positive battery lead was loose on the battery. We were able to just pull it off with no tools. Their excuse was it gets pulled off during shipping, but it really should have been checked again during pre delivery if that was the case, especially on a car with an auto start stop engine.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by tempted

I call BS.

You would of course, but care to explain why?

[Mowdit]

Wow, that explains it all then
All the people who've had battery problems in their PX Rangers, and for those with ICC and other electronic problems including smart charge !
Just tighten the battery terminals properly

(I had my battery replaced, but clearly in doing so they actually tightened the terminals properly)

[arronm]

Millions of cars driving around with loose and corroded battery terminals. There is definitely more to this. FORD tell porky pies.

[Top_Ghia]

I've seen a loose terminal get that hot that it melted the wire so it's plausible. It may not actually be the terminal directly on the battery. My guess is it's the next connection along, at the back of the terminal, probably the alternator wire.

Haters gonna hate.

[mik]

i have also seen the results of a loose battery terminal get so hot it blew the whole battery terminal off , it doesnt have to be a battery cable , anything pulling a lot of amps with a loose or dirty connection can build up a lot of resistance and heat.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by tempted

I wasn't aware that Ford employed qualified forensic scientists. How can their findings be proven?
Ford have a track record of denials and cover ups. Territory ball joints spring to mind.
I don't believe a single word that comes out of their mouths.

You make my brain hurt. Seriously. You use Multix to make your tin foil hats?

You obviously have zero, read zero, clue about anything to do with this or how any of it works. You have no idea how these guys can pick apart a vehicle to find a fault. It really is amazing what they can do. Hell, they can track the cause of an entire bush fire to a single cause!

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by tempted

I wasn't aware that Ford employed qualified forensic scientists. How can their findings be proven?
Ford have a track record of denials and cover ups. Territory ball joints spring to mind.
I don't believe a single word that comes out of their mouths.

Bu...but the Territory is an Australian car.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by tempted

I wasn't aware that Ford employed qualified forensic scientists.

We know you're not aware.

[ebxr8240]

The charging systems on these are a little different to the older vehicles..
A loose or high resistant connection may cause alternator to over charge..
When fitted with 12V to 12V charger for external house batteries etc...
Plays havoc with charging system.. He May have had an inverter fitted also ??

[GTMOND]

Yes , I have seen many battery posts melt due to a poor fitting terminal. As soon as a high amperage load is placed on it the post can melt instantaneously.

[russellw]

Originally Posted by tempted

So Ford engineers are bush fire investigators now? Talk about making brains hurt.

I questioned the findings because they appear to have been made by Ford employees, rather than a qualified forensic investigator.

I'm not quite sure what bushfires have to do with it. The findings are made by qualified engineers and they have been assisted in the process by qualified fire investigators so perhaps get your facts straight before shooting your mouth off.

Originally Posted by tempted

Ford have a track record of denials and cover ups. Territory ball joints spring to mind.I don't believe a single word that comes out of their mouths.

.. and therein lies the problem. By your own admission you are going to be biased so perhaps we can save you the angst and simply remove you from a Ford forum so that you don't have to be further troubled by deception.

Russ

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by mik

i have also seen the results of a loose battery terminal get so hot it blew the whole battery terminal off , it doesnt have to be a battery cable , anything pulling a lot of amps with a loose or dirty connection can build up a lot of resistance and heat.

It happens all the time on 24V setups, we blew away half the positive battery post on our jump start trolley batteries when we had a loose terminal on one of the batteries.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by tempted

I call BS.

Don't you always ?