Smoking Smart

[donfrancis]

Friend had just returned from New Jersey to Northeastern Pennsylvania after having his 2.0 upgrade done. He had problems twice last week with the engine losing power and missing, dealer said all they could find was a loose battery cable. While driving home car began to lose power and fill with smoke to the point he could no longer see out the windshield. Pull to the side of the road were the car continued to smolder for some time. He sent me some cell phone photo of the car and it's melted parts while he was waiting for AAA.

[donfrancis]

need post for link

[donfrancis]

Link

Smart on Fire pictures by donfrancis - Photobucket

[SuperGeek]

Ouch, I hope your friend's ok. Now that you have a point of failure (evidenced by the burn marks), the dealer can find the cause and fix it permanently. I can't imagine a software upgrade causing this issue, and the only fluid they change at the 10k service is engine oil. Only the dealer's techs can figure out what the actual cause is... speculation's pointless, really.

[cubefx]

Why there is the markings on the engine cover? Is the car where rearended before?

[fpage77]

Ok is this starting a new trend of smarts catching on fire. I wonder am I owning the next Volkswagon Beetle (original had engine fires).

[SuperGeek]

Originally Posted by fpage77

Ok is this starting a new trend of smarts catching on fire. I wonder am I owning the next Volkswagon Beetle (original had engine fires).

The other one was the fuse box / SAM unit. Today's is the engine. Nothing has yet been said of an actual defect. In the case of the SAM fire, the car was replaced without question - suggesting Smart either wanted the original for research or admitted there was a problem; nothing will likely be heard unless a recall is ordered - but they will cover the bases, for sure.

In the case of the engine fire - the 2.0 upgrade had just been performed, presumably including oil change. Maybe a tech left a oily rag inside the engine. Maybe a rat or something else fell into the engine compartment. It could be anything and nothing suggests an epidemic of Smart Fires of Doom.

There is no trend. Calm down.

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by SuperGeek

speculation's pointless, really.

True, but it could make for an interesting discussion.

If this were a problem inherent to the design of the 451, I think we would at least have heard of another similar situation by now.

As you and others have stated, there isn't anything performed at the 10K service that would/could/should start a fire, even if a mistake were made or fluid was leaking. Certainly not like the Fiero, which itself had an issue that was greatly exaggerated and subsequently fixed but unfortunately doomed the car just as it was beginning to realise its true potential as a sporty mid-engine coupe.

[jimvw57]

Sounds like you are reading way too much into this. The indications of where the fire was located sure looks like something got left in there like a rag or ?? Not even near what happened to my car. I still don't see anything that remotely looks like a trend.

[piglith]

I agree. Seems odd fire in engine compartment. One of the things with the Carputer in my car. I have two Regulators that do full power monitoring of the battery, If there is an excessive load on the battery I know right off. Might have helped the ECU burnout car. But I will say that after coming home from a long drive I do get the smell of new engine and it does seem mighty hot back there.