Scion xB spontaneously combusts during dealer service

[Good Times]

All I gotta say is what the hell? Curious as to which dealership this was...

Full Article (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/08/scion-xb-spontaneously-combusts-during-dealer-service/)

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/xb-1s.jpg


An auto dealer service center is a lot like a doctor's office for your car. When something is wrong or your ride needs a check-up, a technician can set things right. Of course sometimes doctors make mistakes like taking off your left foot when they're supposed to amputate the right one, and things don't always go as planned in the hands of a trained tech. One Scion xB owner took his modified baby to the dealer for a Technical Service Bulletin, and it ended up engulfed in flames. The fire completely destroyed the little xB, but the good news is that the dealer has taken full responsibility for the problem and is giving the owner a new ride for his troubles.

We had auto shop in high school, but we can't seem to remember any reason a car should blow up when being worked on. We don't know what Scion xB TSB was being done, but if trying to fix it could blow up your car, that's probably not good. Check out the gruesome pics in the gallery below.

[bamachem]

dayum...

crossing the battery terminals can generate some serious heat in a hurry... maybe that's what happened. if you ever accidentally lay a wrench across the poles, you won't do it again... :D (don't ask me how i know... :P)

[04 Rocko Taco]

been there done that Andy!!! No good. I've never set it on fire that way though...

Well I take that back up at Aetna MT a month or so ago, I did set the '84 on fire that way, the batt sdhorted against the hood, and set the battery cables on fire...but not the whole truck...

[MTL_4runner]

Looks like the fire definately started at the fuse panel if I were to hazzard a guess.

[YotaFun]

Yeah def looks like it started in the fuze box.
Exlectrical issues?
It is modified, I am sure the stereo system was changed out...

[4x4mike]

My grandpa ruined an old Ford by not tieing the battery down. He had to replace the old battery. The new one was a little taller so the tie down bar would not work. He figured the battery was heavy enough to just sit there so he drove home to fix it. I guess he made it most of the way home but on a turn the battery tipped over and shorted on the inside of the fender. I didn't see the carnage but he sold the car. I guess most of the wiring had burned up. It would have cost more to replace everything than the car.

[DHC6twinotter]

Back at the dealership I used to work at (not Toyota), we had a trade in catch on fire. A mechanic needed a fuel rail to complete a job he was working on in the garage. For some reason or another, the part wasn't available, so he went out and took the fuel rail off the trade-in. Somebody didn't realize the fuel rail was missing and after trying to start it, the car burst into flames. Fire department came and thought they put the fire out, but after they left, the car caught fire again. Total loss.

I miss working there. :D

[MTL_4runner]

Back at the dealership I used to work at (not Toyota), we had a trade in catch on fire. A mechanic needed a fuel rail to complete a job he was working on in the garage. For some reason or another, the part wasn't available, so he went out and took the fuel rail off the trade-in. Somebody didn't realize the fuel rail was missing and after trying to start it, the car burst into flames. Fire department came and thought they put the fire out, but after they left, the car caught fire again. Total loss.

I miss working there. :D


Wow, talk about throwing gas on a fire..... :laugh: An open injection supply line can pump alot of fuel in a a very short amount of time, that must have been quite a nice bonfire. I've seen alot of small fires started, but I never saw one completely burn like that.

[Small_words]

Funny I should see this post tonight. I just cleaned up my battery and reinstalled an OEM tie-down...but put in the battery backward. Blew the alternator fuse, no other fuses blew, but hopefully the fuse is the end of the damage. Not a good day.