It's true what they say about Ford Explorers

05/25/2008 09:58:56 AM · #1

My husband called, yesterday and told me there was a car on fire up the road. I grabbed my camera and ran over there, just in time to watch it unfold.

This car has been sitting in the parking lot for two days and the driver was nowhere to be found. My first thought was "insurance fraud", but these are known to spontaneously burst into flames because of a defect in the cruise control. Perhaps I'll find out through the grapevine what really happened.

Message edited by author 2008-05-25 10:17:57.

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

05/25/2008 10:09:28 AM · #2

I don't get it.

If the truck was sitting for two days, and the claim that the cruise control may be the culprit causing the spark of ignition....something is wrong with this thought.

Somebody that is an engineer please explain.

Thanks.

05/25/2008 10:11:56 AM · #3

//www.vehicle-injuries.com/ford-explorer-fire.htm

Message edited by author 2008-05-25 10:12:13.

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

05/25/2008 10:19:18 AM · #4

Originally posted by rox_rox:

//www.vehicle-injuries.com/ford-explorer-fire.htm

Thanks Roxanne, I would of lost plenty of sleep over this puzzle.

Stupid Ford company, what are they thinking anyway. Keeping an electrical device "HOT" even when not being used.

Thank Gawd I drive a Chevy.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

05/25/2008 10:22:53 AM · #5

Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:

Originally posted by rox_rox:
//www.vehicle-injuries.com/ford-explorer-fire.htm

Thanks Roxanne, I would of lost plenty of sleep over this puzzle.

Stupid Ford company, what are they thinking anyway. Keeping an electrical device "HOT" even when not being used.

Thank Gawd I drive a Chevy.

Yeah, we love our Chevy, too. This recall was a big deal. Imagine having a firebomb parked in your garage and never knowing when it might go off and burn your house down. Yikes!

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

05/25/2008 10:26:07 AM · #6

Originally posted by rox_rox:

Yeah, we love our Chevy, too. This recall was a big deal. Imagine having a firebomb parked in your garage and never knowing when it might go off and burn your house down. Yikes!

Wow....what a thought.

I can see a damaging law suit against the Ford Motor Company.

Along with the suit, gas prices, and the economy in general, this is not a good stock to be holding right now.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

05/25/2008 10:37:09 AM · #7

Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:

It's not the fact that it's kept "live" when the ignition is off that's the problem, but the poor design of the switch. Think about it... there has to be power to various points, even with the ignition off. There *must* be power to the ignition switch circuit itself, and several other circuits are commonly kept live in modern vehicles.
Even if the brake switch were not live with the ignition switch off, there would still be a fire risk every time the vehicle was driven. They took the el-cheapo way out and used a switch that operates directly off of 12V, and so is capable of producing a spark to ignite the brake fluid. There are a number of much safer ways to sense pressure.

maynerd12

Nikon D80

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

05/25/2008 10:38:40 AM · #8

My buddy worked in a Ford shop, they called 'em Exploders :p

Jimbo_for_life

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

05/25/2008 10:49:33 AM · #9

OHH!!! im seeing a phone number for pranking season:P

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

05/25/2008 10:52:17 AM · #10

Originally posted by Jimbo_for_life:

OHH!!! im seeing a phone number for pranking season:P

LOL, call that number and the joke will be on you;)

Hipychik

Sony Alpha a6000

05/25/2008 11:00:58 AM · #11

Ohhh..I haven't read the article but I'm going to start reading right now! I drive an '02 Explorer (named Dora, by the way).

Edit to add...I'm not on the list.

Message edited by author 2008-05-25 11:02:43.

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

05/25/2008 02:12:33 PM · #12

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:

Originally posted by rox_rox:
//www.vehicle-injuries.com/ford-explorer-fire.htm

Thanks Roxanne, I would of lost plenty of sleep over this puzzle.

Stupid Ford company, what are they thinking anyway. Keeping an electrical device "HOT" even when not being used.

Thank Gawd I drive a Chevy.

It's not the fact that it's kept "live" when the ignition is off that's the problem, but the poor design of the switch. Think about it... there has to be power to various points, even with the ignition off. There *must* be power to the ignition switch circuit itself, and several other circuits are commonly kept live in modern vehicles.
Even if the brake switch were not live with the ignition switch off, there would still be a fire risk every time the vehicle was driven. They took the el-cheapo way out and used a switch that operates directly off of 12V, and so is capable of producing a spark to ignite the brake fluid. There are a number of much safer ways to sense pressure.

Surely the easiest way is to have a switch directly actuated by brake pedal travel. Same goes for brake lights. My old Hillman Avenger had that wayÂ back in the dark ages.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

05/25/2008 02:18:34 PM · #13

Originally posted by Mr_Pants:

Surely the easiest way is to have a switch directly actuated by brake pedal travel. Same goes for brake lights. My old Hillman Avenger had that way back in the dark ages.

Most older vehicles used this technique. The catch with doing so is that if the brake lamp circuit fails, you could wind up with the cruise fighting the brakes. This is the risk assumed when you use pedal travel as a proxy for the actuating force (fluid pressure). I'm fairly certain this is what Ford was trying to avoid by using a dedicated switch. They just chose a poor design.

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

05/25/2008 02:20:24 PM · #14

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by Mr_Pants:

Surely the easiest way is to have a switch directly actuated by brake pedal travel. Same goes for brake lights. My old Hillman Avenger had that way back in the dark ages.

Most older vehicles used this technique. The catch with doing so is that if the brake lamp circuit fails, you could wind up with the cruise fighting the brakes. This is the risk assumed when you use pedal travel as a proxy for the actuating force (fluid pressure). I'm fairly certain this is what Ford was trying to avoid by using a dedicated switch. They just chose a poor design.

A double-pole switch would be used anyway, I should imagine.

Intelli

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

05/25/2008 02:57:29 PM · #15

At Least the Tires held up =)

PhotoDave

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

05/27/2008 12:55:56 AM · #16

Originally posted by rox_rox:

Originally posted by Jimbo_for_life:
OHH!!! im seeing a phone number for pranking season:P

LOL, call that number and the joke will be on you;)

Hey Roxy dont tell me that hotel is the one I looked at:P

Great pics BTW :)

jtf6agent

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/27/2008 01:00:35 AM · #17

Somebody get Brad in here he'll know.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

05/27/2008 01:09:47 AM · #18

It happens all the time here in Florida if you leave the windows up when you park. The Florida sunshine does it. : )
Brake fluid is not good for some types of plastic and rubber, so I can see how a pressure switch made with the wrong materials might leak or break down with break fluid enough to make it arc. Even the 57 Chevy that I had as a kid had a brake fluid pressure switch to operate the brake lights as does my current 65 Ford Falcon. It's a little more complex than that in todays cars and trucks though.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

05/27/2008 05:33:22 PM · #19

Originally posted by dknourek:

Hey Roxy dont tell me that hotel is the one I looked at:P

Great pics BTW :)

Yep, that's the one. It was a busy day there. Later that afternoon a high-speed chase ended in the same spot, with a car load of thugs getting arrested. Again, I was tipped off by AJ who saw it all go down. I was charging my batteries, and thus lost that photojournalism opportunity.

bergiekat

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

05/27/2008 06:33:51 PM · #20

Originally posted by rox_rox:

...Again, I was tipped off by AJ who saw it all go down. ...

I'm seeing a recurring theme here, rofl! Muahahahaha! just kidding! Love the pics!