Engine stall then fire...

[Chibininja]

I was pulling out of work last night when my engine suddenly idled roughly and then shut off completely. When one of my coworkers attempted to start him again, part of the wiring to the left side of what would normally be the distributor (I'm not car-savvy, but have high friends in low places, or something like that) caught fire. It was easily put out. Before The Fire, the engine would stay on if you stood on the accelerator, but sounded a bit hollow.

The Check Engine light came on the previous night, and we were going to have this looked at over our nominal weekend (which fall on Wed and Thurs). But then, this happened. I thank the Divine that we weren't out on the road (or worse, yet, the freeway) when this happened. Since he's power-everything, controlling him in this condition is like trying to haul a dead horse around by the nose.

Any bright ideas? We already dealt with some jackasp who wanted us to pay for everything in advance, so we towed The Beast out of there and now have him home...

Thankee in advance,

 

[Chibininja]

Thanks for the advice, guys...

Turned out we had fuel leaking and it ended up in the exhaust, which caused all the stupidity...

Took it into a repair place and $620 bucks later, my car is running...still needs a replacement gear box, though for a different problem...leaking steering fluid is eating away at my left front stabilizer bushing...feh...so, in a few weeks, I'm looking at forking out another $500 bucks for parts and labor...

 

[snocross1985]

Thanks for the advice, guys...

Please don't make smartass remarks like that. Just becasue someone didn't answer you doesn't mean they don't want to help, it may be that those who have read it do not know the cause.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, just giving you a heads-up.

 

[410Fortune]

My advice is $500 is way too much for a steering pump leak and sway bar bushing

Glad you got the wiring fixed, sounds like a disaster!

Also by your post I thought you meant it would stall, then fire right up, not catch fire hahaha

 

[Chibininja]

Well, he's saying it's the gear box that's been leaking (Midas in Vero Beach FL replaced the old PSP in September after the first one drained, overheated and froze up), which has been priced at 279 and change, and then labor at 95 an hour...and yes, in regard to the "main" problem", he did indeed catch fire (flames and everything) when my coworker attempted to start him...which was promptly put out with some handy bottled water (so that's why I drink so much water!)

That price doesn't even include the bushing...which I had replaced by the same Midas who did the power steering pump. We haven't approached him yet about that, but may end up trading for the work...he's got a website that needs serious work (three years stale) and I happen to be a web designer and hosting provider...mwahahahaha!!

EDIT:

Will probably have another mechanic do THAT fix...different place quoted me 340 for parts and labor to replace the gear box...I'd say that price is FAR preferable to the 500 the other guy quoted me...

Shaking my head...why do people think I'm dumb enough to not research stuff first? Is it because I am female???????