treah

So today I was spraying the passanger side of the jeep down with soapy water and then I was on fire along with the entire engine bay in my xj... Any ideas what may have caused this? Hopefully I can get a new wirring harness soon and get it back on the road soon.

ragged1

Any pics? Where did it start? Was it running when it happened?

treah

pics are on my cell and ill post them up when i figure out how to get them on my computer...And ya it was running when it lit up. All of the main connectors on the back of the motor are pretty torched. I didnt have a fire extinguisher so it burned for about five minutes.

waltermitty

If you had fuel/oil residue inside the plastic auto loom and then sprayed water in the engine compartment with the wires energized (engine running) chances are the water got into a connector or two, shorted and fried the wiring causing the insulation, oil/fuel, plastic to ignite causing serious damage to your loom.

Wow! That was a long sentence and just my opinion about what "may" have happened. Hope you get it fixed easily and glad you didn't get burned while putting it out.

CherokeeCountry

Lol. Wait, you were spraying it with soapy water, it caught on fire, and it burned for five minutes? You may have been able to spray it with the water you were using and put it out? Unless there was a lot of oil. Then it just would have spread. Even then, I'd be like, robbing my neighbors for baking soda/powder to put the oil fire out haha.

treah

Ya I tried to put it out with the little bit of water but the entire block and bay was on fire lol. I guess its good that I didnt get burnt badly, just lost a little arm hair.

CherokeeCountry

Yeah, great you didn't get hurt.

freegdr

are you sure it was soap and water kinda strange for that combo to start a fire

1plunk

Everyone cleans their car with gasoline...

OP: glad your okay

treah

Yep I'm positive just had bought a brand new spray bottle and mixed it up myself.