Today, I notice my 2001 Monte Carlo SS (no modifications) would not start. Considering it had been sitting in the cold & snow for over a week without being started, I assumed the battery died.

I bought a pair of jumper cables and attempted to jump the Monte Carlo.

The car would not start when I turned the key. I turned the key again and BOOM...flames came from under the hood. A fire broke out. Where? Center, close to the windshield, I guess by the fuel line.

Like a panicked idiot, I tossed alot of snow on the fire, but it didn't make a dent, its as if the fire has constant fuel (probably did).

Then, another BOOM (which everyone on the street heard) and parts went flying. The engine cover, the oil cap, other bits and pieces. The neighbor next door put the fire out with an extinguisher.

My question is: What the hell? Did I do something wrong when I jumped the vehicle. I have jumped this car before, as well as many others so I do not think I did anything wrong. Even if I picked a "bad ground".....
Even if a spark happened, the car should NOT have ignited. There must have been a fuel line leak or something. Due to the weather (several feet of snow) could the fuel line have frozen/snapped/leaked???

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I have always appreciate everyone's help on this board. Unless this can be fixed (doubtful) and not totaled, I guess I will not be posting about the Monte Carlo any longer. Under the hood looks like a total mess right now.

 

wtf man, holy hell, I have no idea what happened but glad nobody got hurt!

 

Thanks Chris. I appreciate the reply. Nice picture!

I am still in shock really. Not sure if the insurance company will help me here. Assuming I need a new car, I am not happy about that. I was just preparing to do some work on the Monte Carlo. I purchased a new cat converter and motor mounts...........man.......

 

Sorry to hear about your car, man. I'd say that if there was moisture in the fuel, and the temperature dropped low enough for it to freeze, one of the lines may have busted and fuel leaked in the engine compartment while you were trying to start the car. I'd suggest taking your time and check the damage before you give up on your car, and go from there. Post some pics of the damage and perhaps some of the guys can tell you how to proceed.

 

Wil - many thanks for your reply. And also.......nice picture!

I will take pictures tomorrow when the sun comes back up. What a day. It was kinda traumatic looking back on the experience. I guess I was numb and in shock most of the day and now it is wearing off. The BOOM was pretty loud and scared many.

If the car insurance covers the damage, I guess it can be fixed. But I think they might consider it totaled.

 

The moisture in the fuel you mentioned.....is that normal (cheap gas) or could this all have happened due to the bad cat converter. The engine light came on 2 weeks ago and code read Faulty Cat Converter. I could not get the car to my mechanic for several weeks due to the snow. I didnt even drive the car really other than a few times around the corner while the light was on.......

I keep thinking I did something wrong when I jumped the vehicle........not fixing the cat converter fast enough.........I feel really bad about all of this....

 

I bet it must have been painful to watch. I hope the insurance does right by you. Worst case scenario you could go for an 06-07 MC SS with a V-8. There's one for like 10,500 that someone posted it a thread about here not too long ago. Good luck with the insurance people!

 

wow. im sure that every member on this site is sorry to hear about your car. i had close to the same issues with my old truck. only it did it in the middle of a mud pit....sorry to hear about your car man. good luck with everything

 

exactly what I was thinking, take some pics and the rest of us will do our best to help with anything you need! that is why this is the best forum, we are here to help.

 

i know mice like to hide around my cars and chew up things like wires and stuff. last week they chewed up the hose for the oil pressure gauge in our impala and it leaked oil on the carpet.