almost up in flames

[cja7928]

My neigbor has a 97 dually with a 7.3. He called me over cause it wouldnt start. His wait to start light wasnt coming on. So I got on here and looked up threads on this and found a bunch of threads about the fuel heater going bad causing it to blow the fuse for the glow plugs. We replaced the 30 amp fuse and tried it again just to see, and sure enough first electical smoke and then white smoke like diesel almost ready to ignite came up from the fuel bowl. tore it apart and found the heater had melted all the way through the plastic connector on the side of the fuel bowl and deisel was pouring out onto the melted wire. I would say we were a couple seconds from a major engine fire, especially since he had just drained the separator and there was already a bunch of deisel all over the block. Anyway just wanted to thank everyone for this great resource and all the help here. I can always come here and get the answers.

[Banshee34]

Thank goodness it didn't ignite!

[Dave]

I agree with Tiff on that one! Hope you get your neighbor all squared away Chris

[cja7928]

Originally Posted by Dave

I agree with Tiff on that one! Hope you get your neighbor all squared away Chris

He is supposed to get the parts today, Should be an easy fix. Im surprised they designed it like that. The element inside the bowl was completely melted and with it being in the bowl with a plastic connector im surprised it wasnt recalled. seems like a major fire hazard. Im just glad it didnt go up in flames. Kind of funny though while I was helping the neigbor my wife had started a fire burning some cardboard in the fire pit in the back yard. My neighbor asked if that was normal and I said yea shes probably just burning some papers and stuff. Then a minute later theres alot of smoke and i said I better go look, I ran to the fence and looked over and the whole yard was on fire. The fire from the pit had lit the dry grass on fire. so I jumped the fence and got the fire extinguiser and put it out. My back yard is now all black. Not a good day for fires.

[Banshee34]

Originally Posted by cja7928

He is supposed to get the parts today, Should be an easy fix. Im surprised they designed it like that. The element inside the bowl was completely melted and with it being in the bowl with a plastic connector im surprised it wasnt recalled. seems like a major fire hazard. Im just glad it didnt go up in flames. Kind of funny though while I was helping the neigbor my wife had started a fire burning some cardboard in the fire pit in the back yard. My neighbor asked if that was normal and I said yea shes probably just burning some papers and stuff. Then a minute later theres alot of smoke and i said I better go look, I ran to the fence and looked over and the whole yard was on fire. The fire from the pit had lit the dry grass on fire. so I jumped the fence and got the fire extinguiser and put it out. My back yard is now all black. Not a good day for fires.

HOLY CRAP! Didn't she have a hose handy???

[cja7928]

Originally Posted by Banshee34

HOLY CRAP! Didn't she have a hose handy???

She said she thought it was out and that the baby was crying so she went in the house for a minit.

[Banshee34]

Originally Posted by cja7928

She said she thought it was out and that the baby was crying so she went in the house for a minit.

Wow that could have gotten totally out of control! But hey your yard should come back greener than before.

[POWERSMOKIN]

Originally Posted by Banshee34

Wow that could have gotten totally out of control! But hey your yard should come back greener than before.

Haha! I lol'd!

Originally Posted by cja7928

She said she thought it was out and that the baby was crying so she went in the house for a minit.

Thats how lots of forest fires happen. Campers think there fire pits are out, hot ember leaps out, BOOM!
Glad everthins aright