Do you have a fire extinguisher in your Dino

If not, get one! A local newspaper clip as reminder below what can happen, this GTS burned up just yesterday and might have been saved with a fire extinguisher on board.

If you don't have one, buy a AFFF based fire extinguisher with 2.4L capacity, not a standard powder based one, the powder can ruin aluminium parts and is difficult to clean/get rid off. Most race shops have AFFF handheld extinguishers in stock.

Best,
Adrian
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Yes

 

Do Dinos have a history of catching fire? Any specific cause?

 

I think all Italian cars are just ONE spark away.

 

Dino passion can turn combustible, often without any warning! All of our cars have their unique aromas, but the Dino driver is ever vigilant for any burning smell that's "out of the ordinary"! Fred

 

Not necessarily more than other performance cars of that age, but having a carb catch fire is not so unlikely. If your fuel pipes going to the carbs are old and brittle then thats another good chance starting a fire.

 

here a picture that was taken when the car was still on fire.....
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always do a random check of hose conditions and tightness of clamps, they loosen with time.
ed

 

Lost my beloved 330GTC to fire - all my cars now have extinguishers. Great advice here.

 

Re-defines the term "Hot Shoe".

CW

 

The large electrical relay on the firewall shorted and set fire to the (deteriorating, original) black rubber-based insulation material a few years ago. It was out in less that 2 mins thanks to my Halotron extinguisher, which ironically I'd only been carrying in the car for a few months, though I'd owned the car for 2-3 yrs before that. Mostly just cosmetic damage, but required pulling the engine. Good news is that State Farm covered the damage with no questions or issues, and I got a chance to do some (there's always a list) engine-out things at the same time, on their nickel! I've always had extings. in all of my cars since then.

 

my Napa fuel regulator sprung a leak, gas dripping onto hot exhaust, and the GT4 caught on fire. I stopped, got out, opened the engine bay, and comtemplated for 5 seconds to let it burn out. Then, I came to my senses and grabbed the powder fire extinguisher and put out the fire in 2 squirts. Spent all day cleaning that up afterwards.

So I am one of the few owners who can say ... ya, I got an engine fire once.

 

They do! One weak construction is the amperemeter gauge. The bakelit isolation of the cables on the back gets broken after some years and when on cable hits ground the cable acts like a burning line. On all earlier Dinos do not have an extra fuse for that (also not the one in the engine room). The cable gets hot from the battery below the spare wheel to the dashboard and to the generator under the hood. Not stoppable if you have not an emergency power switch to disconnect the battery.
I know several 246 who gets on fire by that root cause.
My own M- Series had a similar issue when a power cable get stucked with the rotating short arm of the wipper motor. The isolation was damaged and touched ground and the whole cable burned from the fuse box till the headlight.
I have a fire distinguisher with me.
It contains the old HALON gas, which is forbidden since some years because it is an FCKW and not good for the OZON atmoshere. But even the fire workers I know keeped ist for themselves. It kills the fire by removing the oxigene and without damaging anything or leaving something.
Nicolai

 

Not only have one, but make sure it's properly charged and placed in such a way as to make its removal and use easy!!

Replace it every 2-3 years if it can't be recharged.

URO, this means YOU!! That one in your car is 5 years old.

Halon is the extinguisher material of choice, but they don't call it that anymore.

D

 

That is a painful picture to see.

 

We had this discussion elsewhere in this thread.

I carry a small Halon (still available in the U.S.) fire extinguisher behind the passenger seat, wedged in with some foam. The best installation was suggested by one of our colleagues here - a plumbed in system with nozzles in the engine compartment. I would probably want also to carry a handhled extinguisher in case a fire breaks out elsewhere in the car.

I installed a battery cut-off switch accessible through the left vent opening behind the front bumper.

Andres

 

I have a halon extinguisher in the trunk and a battery cutoff switch in the grill.

 

anyone know the best one to get, and where to get it? i think the one in my dino is very old, plus it has a ferrari logo on it!

 

Phil68, if you are in the US, get a Halon handheld. Moss Motors sells a small one. aArcraft Spruce and I think Pegasus have a wider selection. Andres

 

Scandalous!

A very common car compared to the much rarer Dino marque.

 

This is the one i have, Lifeline 201-100-003 AFFF 2,4L:
http://www.subesports.com/products/cat/Fire+Extinguishers/brand/Lifeline/prodID/2193
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p13966/LIFELINE-FIRE-EXTINGUISHER-2.4-LITRE-HAND-HELD/product_info.html

 

Whilst minding my own business driving down an English country lane, the car started to misfire,I stopped and got out, it was night and as I opened the door and pulled on the hood release, I noticed a flickering glow through the side scoop/vent. On opening I saw that the little black box was melting and a little fire was burning. No fire extinguisher on hand, just a can of soda . Poured it over the fire and it went out. Very lucky you might say. The fuse are was burned but the contacts still there. The ring pull from the can served as make shift fuse.

 

True, the original large alternator fuse poses the same risk as the amperemeter connectors. If the contacts start to corrode there is a risk of a fire due to the resulting heat created by the current flowing through the corroded contacts. Get rid of the original fuse and install a "Midi 60A fuse" using ring terminals for the large red wire.

 

Where can I find the "Midi 60A fuse"?
Thank you.
Regards, Alberto

 

Most auto stores should have them, Midi fuses have been designed for automotive applications and are often used for larger car stereo retrofits. You can also order them at electronic stores such as Digikey: http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/696061-fuse-60a-32v-midi-bolt-0498060-m.html

Below is a picture of a converted fusebox fitted with a Midi fuse.

Best,
Adrian
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