So, how often does a totally cooled off, not run for 7 hours 1998 Toyota Camry spontaneously combust?

That's what the cop told my 17 year old daughter at 5:30 this morning: Her car just "caught fire".

Fortunately she wasn't in it. No, she doesn't smoke, doesn't allow it in her car. And she keeps it locked up.

The driver's side window was "broken out". I'm wondering if it wasn't broken IN. No other glass was damaged.

We're going down this afternoon to have a look see and "interview" the cop who told my daughter that her car set itself on fire. I'll take pictures.

Watch for updates.....

Yeah,  that sounds likely.   

Just got back from the impound yard. The tow monkey just shrugged when I asked how cars spontaneously combust. Unbelieveably, the police station closes at 4. Closes. REALLY?

I'm slowly squeezing details out of the PuddinFace. Here's what we got for now:

You know, I think that'll buff right out.

That sucks, be curious to know the real story behind that.

Story from the PuddinFace: The car was sitting locked up with windows tightly shut. She was staying at a friends house in town. At 5:30 her friends dad hollered that a car was on fire outside. They called 911 and watched. The windshield blew out first, then the drivers side front, followed by the rest. My initial information was wrong.

I still don't know how this happens, though I was told that if she had a subwoofer with a separate power amp, the battery cables are all too often too small a gauge to handle the power requirements and will sometimes catch fire. Kaitlyn had no subwoofer in her car, but she did have an aftermarket stereo, a Pioneer if I remember right. It did not function correctly half the time. Fire guys said the fire looks to have started in the dash area.

Kaitlyn has smoke inhalation issues, I'm taking her in in a few minutes. She's also panicking over not having wheels or money to replace the car. She is quickly learning some valuable lessons in familial respect.

Wow!  I'd do some googling to see if there is a history of that make and model catching fire...it may - repeat may, have been an electrical short.

As an example, the idiots that slapped our trailer together laid the main electrical cable from the battery between the frame and the floor. .......It took 7 years to wear through and catch fire........fortunately, we were standing beside it when it happened, and caught it before any damage was done. It took 4 guys several hours to remove, re-route, and repair that cable.

Not saying there is any similarity with Puddinface's unfortunate incident, but a real life example of what can happen......

Apparently I got the story wrong again: The drivers window was already broken when the fire was discovered. The REST of the glass was watched blow out.

And oh, the difference a day makes...

No, they haven't changed their official conclusion of "spontaneous combustion"...yet, but guess what.

This morning my wife went in for a copy of the police report. She was told that they reopened the investigation.

Apparently that same morning, less than an hour later and only a few blocks away, another vehicle needed to be put out. This vehicle was on a construction site and the ignition was witnessed: Someone threw a lit flare through the drivers window. Why that fact alone didn't give pause to those looking at my daughters car I'll need to ask.



I'm waiting for the phone to ring, the chief owes me a call.