What might have caused this (fire)?

[Sterling]

That red one look fritenly simaler to mine, even the fog lights are the same... This is going to make me coat everything in Powderd carbondioxide.

Any preventions?

 

[tenikiwon]

yes the recall is only for the f 150, expedition, navigator, lines, if you PM me your VON i can check the recalls that are on it

I didn't think the Explorers had a problem since you had to turn the Cruise on each time you start the truck.

 

[gijoecam]

I wouldn't be so quick to jump on the Cruise Control Switch band-wagon. The system in the 95 Explorer has power all the time to the brake pressure switch and speed control servo. However, it's powered via a 7.5A fuse which *should* blow long before there is enough current to heat up and ignite the fluid even if the switch was bad. Furthermore, due to the lower operating pressures in the switch on the Explorers, it's not prone to failure like the switches on the full-size trucks.

Additionally there are numerous other possible sources. The wiring to the fuse box is right in that same corner, the fuel lines come up and over to the engine right there too.... could have been a cracked fuel rail dripping on a hot part... it'd be tough to tell given what little is left.

Hopefully it was insured. Good luck!

-Joe

 

[stubborn1]

If you are serious about parting out the vehicle, some insurance companies MAY let you "buy back" the totaled vehicle for the same price as what the junkyard would pay the insurance company. Never hurts to ask.

It also means you are going to have a crispy hunk of metal sitting around the house for a little while.

 

[kfkodiak]

I wouldn't be so quick to jump on the Cruise Control Switch band-wagon. The system in the 95 Explorer has power all the time to the brake pressure switch and speed control servo. However, it's powered via a 7.5A fuse which *should* blow long before there is enough current to heat up and ignite the fluid even if the switch was bad. Furthermore, due to the lower operating pressures in the switch on the Explorers, it's not prone to failure like the switches on the full-size trucks.

Additionally there are numerous other possible sources. The wiring to the fuse box is right in that same corner, the fuel lines come up and over to the engine right there too.... could have been a cracked fuel rail dripping on a hot part... it'd be tough to tell given what little is left.

Hopefully it was insured. Good luck!

-Joe

Good point, anything could have happened here.

I still maintain my opinion based on the fact that the vehicle had existing cruise control problems as said above. Like I said I'm no expert, so it's just my opinion. The following is just an observation, and not meant to be a rant or personal disagreement.

My '98 has a 20A fuse for that circuit, and the wires to the switch on the master cylinder are very small, probably 20 or 22 gauge. With wires that small, even 7.5A could be a problem. I'm starting to look at adding a fuse to that wire, probably 0.5A or less. The best solution would be to re-wire the harness so the power feed is switched 12v, not constant as it is now. If you replace the switch with the newer type, it is indeed a more durable part, but you still have constant power to a switch that could fail at some point.

JMHO

 

[gijoecam]

Good point, anything could have happened here.

I still maintain my opinion based on the fact that the vehicle had existing cruise control problems. Like I said I'm no expert, so it's just my opinion. The following is just an observation, and not meant to be a rant or personal disagreement.

My '98 has a 20A fuse for that circuit, and the wires to the switch on the master cylinder are very small, probably 20 or 22 gauge. With wires that small, even 7.5A could be a problem. I'm starting to look at adding a fuse to that wire, probably 0.5A or less. The best solution would be to re-wire the harness so the power feed is switched 12v, not constant as it is now. If you replace the switch with the newer type, it is indeed a more durable part, but you still have constant power to a switch that could fail at some point.

JMHO

I mis-read the post,... I thought you had a 95..... my mistake....

Given the fact that it's a 98, and your history of cruise problems, I'd say that, yes, sure, it's definately a possibility. Could also be coincidence as well.

-Joe

 

[budwich]

Here is a "short story" to a "success" in this news group of catching the problem just before the fire.... http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139283&highlight=fire

 

[spindlecone]

Good point, anything could have happened here.

I still maintain my opinion based on the fact that the vehicle had existing cruise control problems. Like I said I'm no expert, so it's just my opinion. The following is just an observation, and not meant to be a rant or personal disagreement.

My '98 has a 20A fuse for that circuit, and the wires to the switch on the master cylinder are very small, probably 20 or 22 gauge. With wires that small, even 7.5A could be a problem. I'm starting to look at adding a fuse to that wire, probably 0.5A or less. The best solution would be to re-wire the harness so the power feed is switched 12v, not constant as it is now. If you replace the switch with the newer type, it is indeed a more durable part, but you still have constant power to a switch that could fail at some point.

JMHO

the issue has nothing to do with the fuses, the switch is powered 24/7, on some older ex,s,key on, key off, makes no diff.
Is a membrane within the switch to de-activate the cruise control, when the brakes are applied.
The membrane, ruptures, or degrades, could become a problem.
15 bux, buy a new switch, problem solved, no more worrys.