Camaro caught on fire - Page 3

Red Leader · 12-27-2019, 02:49 PM

I had the same issue with my 2016 1SS. My car has no mods tho, but your air suspension most likely doesn't play a role in this issue. It's a starter issue. When the car is hot and you go to do an immediate restart after shutting down the starter has soaked up too much heat and the resistance is too high. I burnt up my starter one day from this, no fire, but definitely smoke coming from the area because it got overheated. Replaced under warranty. But it still has the issue because there is not enough heat shielding around the starter. There have been others on this forum with the same issue. Hopefully this helps some in resolving the issue, but it sounds like the dealer has latched onto your air suspension as the cause, so not sure how to get around that.

MrChrisLS3 · 12-27-2019, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Leader

I had the same issue with my 2016 1SS. My car has no mods tho, but your air suspension most likely doesn't play a role in this issue. It's a starter issue. When the car is hot and you go to do an immediate restart after shutting down the starter has soaked up too much heat and the resistance is too high. I burnt up my starter one day from this, no fire, but definitely smoke coming from the area because it got overheated. Replaced under warranty. But it still has the issue because there is not enough heat shielding around the starter. There have been others on this forum with the same issue. Hopefully this helps some in resolving the issue, but it sounds like the dealer has latched onto your air suspension as the cause, so not sure how to get around that.

If there is a TSB for this, then he stands a chance. But without something like that, and considering that there is probably enough damage from the fire that diagnosing the starter as the culprit is unlikely, the aftermarket wiring job is enough to close the warranty case.

Jdelgado92 · 12-27-2019, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Leader

I had the same issue with my 2016 1SS. My car has no mods tho, but your air suspension most likely doesn't play a role in this issue. It's a starter issue. When the car is hot and you go to do an immediate restart after shutting down the starter has soaked up too much heat and the resistance is too high. I burnt up my starter one day from this, no fire, but definitely smoke coming from the area because it got overheated. Replaced under warranty. But it still has the issue because there is not enough heat shielding around the starter. There have been others on this forum with the same issue. Hopefully this helps some in resolving the issue, but it sounds like the dealer has latched onto your air suspension as the cause, so not sure how to get around that.

That’s what I’ve been thinking the problem was even before all this happened. Thank you for chiming in.
Questions , maybe you know the answer, is the starter part of the bumper to bumper warranty or the drivestrain warranty?

Red Leader · 12-28-2019, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdelgado92

That’s what I’ve been thinking the problem was even before all this happened. Thank you for chiming in.
Questions , maybe you know the answer, is the starter part of the bumper to bumper warranty or the drivestrain warranty?

I believe the starter is under drivetrain warranty, not 100% sure though.

protovack · 12-28-2019, 11:23 PM

details will be important here. You gotta do an autopsy on this engine bay.
Where exactly are the singe marks from the fire. You said under the passenger side exhaust manifold. Whats down there? What initially caught on fire? Are their any electrical systems that go through that area?

Kiteboarder85 · 12-30-2019, 08:26 AM

Next time, don't attempt to put the fire out yourself. I agree with the folks saying let insurance take care of fire damage.

Jdelgado92 · 01-17-2020, 06:48 PM

UPDATE:

finally got the car back from the dealership. After GM told me to kick rocks and to deal with the dealership, I authorized them to do a diagnostic for the $120. They told me that power was getting to the starter but the starter wasn’t turning or whatever the terminology is. They also told me that the battery had a bad cell and that it wasn’t holding charge.
My bumper to bumper warranty ran out back in February 2019 and apparently the starter isn’t covered under powerstrain so to replace the battery and the starter, the total was going to be $1,720.85 + tax. At this point, they still haven’t taken out the starter to check it for any burnt or melted parts, I had to authorize the $1720 for them to take it out and inspect it. Upon doing so, if they do see and fire signs, they would have to call GM again and start another case. I’ll be honest, after the whole 2 month of waiting to gm to get back to me, I was kind of hoping they didn’t find any fire signs. Anyways, I authorized the starter and battery replacement, with in 3 days they called me and told me my car was ready. They said they didn’t see any signs of there being a fire , that the started just shorted out and that’s where all the smoke came from. Then I asked them about the coolant leak, apparently the coolant was fine, no leaks, they just topped it off and the lady said it wasn’t even enough to charge me for that. I know I saw what looked like the light emitting from flames flickering and definitely smelled the burning smell. Truth be told I have no idea what it was then that I saw but whatever the case, my cars back and it seems to be running perfectly fine. It starts up instantly and the battery gauge stay steady right above 14 the whole time unlike before. Next I’m going to check the voltage from the air bags and make sure there isn’t any power draws that can give me problems again in the future even though I’m sure it wasn’t the bags that caused the problem. All in all thank you everyone for your advice, I had to bite the bullet and pay the $1861.00 after tax but all seems fine now.
For anyone that’s having start up problems like hesitation you crank especially after long or hard drives or their rpm gauge flickers randomly, please get it checked out because it can definitely lead to worse, it’s not either the battery going bad, the started getting heat soaked or both.
Again thanks everyone for the advice and I’m grinning like a little kid again after 3 whole months without my car!

dpevans · 01-17-2020, 07:06 PM

Wow $1,800. Buy a starter and heat shield on Rock Auto for $130 and a battery can be had for less than 2 bills. Hate to depress you but you got screwed. glad you got it back though. Even if a couple wires burnt and needed replaced. Sure glad I can work on my own car.

Jdelgado92 · 01-17-2020, 07:11 PM

I know I did, but the way I see it, if something goes wrong regarding those 2 things they can’t say I messed it up replacing them myself. They were the last ones to touch it so I can at least fight that. The starter pretty much because I know the battery is easy to replace.

LT4Greg · 01-17-2020, 09:04 PM

Glad you got your Camaro back and it’s running good again! Hopefully it’s good to go now and you can start enjoying it again!��

12-27-2019, 02:49 PM	#29
Red Leader Drives: 2016 Camaro 1SS Red Hot Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: San Rafael Posts: 65	I had the same issue with my 2016 1SS. My car has no mods tho, but your air suspension most likely doesn't play a role in this issue. It's a starter issue. When the car is hot and you go to do an immediate restart after shutting down the starter has soaked up too much heat and the resistance is too high. I burnt up my starter one day from this, no fire, but definitely smoke coming from the area because it got overheated. Replaced under warranty. But it still has the issue because there is not enough heat shielding around the starter. There have been others on this forum with the same issue. Hopefully this helps some in resolving the issue, but it sounds like the dealer has latched onto your air suspension as the cause, so not sure how to get around that. __________________ Red Hot 1SS MRC NPP Black Bow Ties Black Metallic Rally Stripes Black Wheels With Red Outline TPW 12/14/15 1G1FE1R72G0133041 - 12/16 built 2/19/16 - It's mine!! Previous rides: 2011 Camaro LS 2010 Camaro SS 1988 Honda Civic Hatch B18C1 swap

12-30-2019, 08:26 AM	#34
Kiteboarder85 Drives: 2018 SS - 2015 SS 1LE - 2013 SS Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Freeland, MI Posts: 418 View My Garage	Next time, don't attempt to put the fire out yourself. I agree with the folks saying let insurance take care of fire damage. __________________ Billy B. Current: 2018 Hyper Blue SS

01-17-2020, 06:48 PM	#35
Jdelgado92 Drives: '16 Red hot M6 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: south Jersey Posts: 665	UPDATE: finally got the car back from the dealership. After GM told me to kick rocks and to deal with the dealership, I authorized them to do a diagnostic for the $120. They told me that power was getting to the starter but the starter wasn’t turning or whatever the terminology is. They also told me that the battery had a bad cell and that it wasn’t holding charge. My bumper to bumper warranty ran out back in February 2019 and apparently the starter isn’t covered under powerstrain so to replace the battery and the starter, the total was going to be $1,720.85 + tax. At this point, they still haven’t taken out the starter to check it for any burnt or melted parts, I had to authorize the $1720 for them to take it out and inspect it. Upon doing so, if they do see and fire signs, they would have to call GM again and start another case. I’ll be honest, after the whole 2 month of waiting to gm to get back to me, I was kind of hoping they didn’t find any fire signs. Anyways, I authorized the starter and battery replacement, with in 3 days they called me and told me my car was ready. They said they didn’t see any signs of there being a fire , that the started just shorted out and that’s where all the smoke came from. Then I asked them about the coolant leak, apparently the coolant was fine, no leaks, they just topped it off and the lady said it wasn’t even enough to charge me for that. I know I saw what looked like the light emitting from flames flickering and definitely smelled the burning smell. Truth be told I have no idea what it was then that I saw but whatever the case, my cars back and it seems to be running perfectly fine. It starts up instantly and the battery gauge stay steady right above 14 the whole time unlike before. Next I’m going to check the voltage from the air bags and make sure there isn’t any power draws that can give me problems again in the future even though I’m sure it wasn’t the bags that caused the problem. All in all thank you everyone for your advice, I had to bite the bullet and pay the $1861.00 after tax but all seems fine now. For anyone that’s having start up problems like hesitation you crank especially after long or hard drives or their rpm gauge flickers randomly, please get it checked out because it can definitely lead to worse, it’s not either the battery going bad, the started getting heat soaked or both. Again thanks everyone for the advice and I’m grinning like a little kid again after 3 whole months without my car! __________________ Follow me on Instagram @julian_delgad0

01-17-2020, 07:11 PM	#37
Jdelgado92 Drives: '16 Red hot M6 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: south Jersey Posts: 665	I know I did, but the way I see it, if something goes wrong regarding those 2 things they can’t say I messed it up replacing them myself. They were the last ones to touch it so I can at least fight that. The starter pretty much because I know the battery is easy to replace. __________________ Follow me on Instagram @julian_delgad0

01-17-2020, 09:04 PM	#38
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	Glad you got your Camaro back and it’s running good again! Hopefully it’s good to go now and you can start enjoying it again!�� __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

12-28-2019, 11:23 PM	#33
protovack Drives: 2019 2LT 2.0T M6 Riverside Blue Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: WA Posts: 847	details will be important here. You gotta do an autopsy on this engine bay. Where exactly are the singe marks from the fire. You said under the passenger side exhaust manifold. Whats down there? What initially caught on fire? Are their any electrical systems that go through that area?

01-17-2020, 07:06 PM	#36
dpevans Drives: 2024 Riverside Blue 2SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,208	Wow $1,800. Buy a starter and heat shield on Rock Auto for $130 and a battery can be had for less than 2 bills. Hate to depress you but you got screwed. glad you got it back though. Even if a couple wires burnt and needed replaced. Sure glad I can work on my own car.

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