does anybody know of any reported problems with fires in these vans? we bought a new 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Conversion Van in Oct.'04. dealer said they found 500 straight vans in a warehouse over in Thailand in June or July '03, brought them all back to states and put conversion packages on them so they couldsell them faster. We've had no problems at all with ours (except using alot of gas), did all service as usual, then 2 weeks ago, I went out and started it, and within seconds of starting, smoke started coming out from passenger side of hood like a hose blew, and before I could reach in to shut it off, flames started coming out from under hood and out of wheel well. I opened hood and fire was coming from down the side if the engine near where the motor mount is. I didn't have anything with me to throw on the fire, so I put down hood and went back to house for fire extinguisher. When I got back to van, I tried to open hood, but couldn't, and by then it really didn't matter because my little extinguisher was no match for all the flames coming out by then. Within minutes, the whole vehicle was on fire and not much else could be done. I tried pulling some of my tools out from the back doors but the smoke was so thick and black that I couldn't see anything.
Anyway, just wondering if anyone has ever of this happening and why, maybe a manfacturing defect? Maybe some service bullitens out on it that I didn't know or wasn't told about?
DurangoR ICE
03-07-2007, 04:16 AM
damn that sucks. But if you didnt post this anywhere else i would go to a more general board listing cause almost no one checks these boards ever.
Dodgevanman
03-07-2007, 06:36 AM
First I've heard of anything like that happening...perhaps something the conversion company did? I'm just glad to hear nobody was hurt. Will your insurance cover it?
Dodgevanman
03-07-2007, 06:37 AM
damn that sucks. But if you didnt post this anywhere else i would go to a more general board listing cause almost no one checks these boards ever.
Whatchu talking about Willis! I know I'm on here everyday and there alot of people with vans that come on here.
RAM MAN
03-07-2007, 06:40 AM
sorry to hear it
I drive a van and check in here daily ...
gsmagnum
03-07-2007, 09:46 AM
I just got rid of my '03. I didn't have any problems.
If you are in MN it is at Walser Dodge. It is a nice van, but just not our cup of tea.
I hope your insurance gets you taken care of quickly.
I wonder if there was a short or something in the hearter area or if you had a fuel leak?
Ram4ever
03-07-2007, 09:18 PM
If it was by the engine mount I bet a fuel filter cracked or the fuel hose leaked and sprayed fuel on the exhaust manifold. I feel your pain. I've always dreaded the possibility of someone accidentally lighting my rug, which most definitely isn't fireproof - an oriental. I carry an extinguisher, but it would be no match for a fuel fire.
gower3544
03-07-2007, 09:20 PM
damn that sucks. But if you didnt post this anywhere else i would go to a more general board listing cause almost no one checks these boards ever.
They do so.
gsmagnum
03-07-2007, 09:30 PM
I check whenever I am on line.
There are days when the title page is full of new/updated posts.
Daytrepper
03-08-2007, 06:46 PM
Sorry to hear about that. The plastic fuel rail is about all that comes to mind thats over on that side. It may have cracked, or the plastic tube connecting the left and right fuel rails may have sprung a leak.
I watched my friends' Mustang burn up from a fuel leak a few years back. I now carry 30lb extinguishers in both my vehicles. I have one strapped to the wall behind the rear door in the van, and one in the trunk in the Intrepid. Just in case.
