My 10000 mile Honda S2000 '01 Red caught fire on my drive home from work last night. No warning, no check engine lights, no electrical problems, just 2 seconds of thick black smoke then flames from the right side of the hood bonnet.

By the time the fire was put out by the fire dept (an ordinary fire extingusher did NOTHING.) it was toast.


Couple of points

1) No mods in the engine compartment except a stabilizer bar.

2) Had the oil changed at Hendrick Honda in Charlotte NC about 1 month ago.

3) NO fluids ever leaked on my garage floor (where it stayed all of its life that I wasnt driving it).

4) I was not overevving or otherwise pushing the car when this happened. I actually had just begun to brake for a left turn and came to a stop at a stoplight.

5) I had inspected the engine compartment only a few days before, it was immaculately clean (no oil leaks).


My wife and I have always loved this car. Probably would have kept it for the rest of my life. Now I am not sure I could ever get in another one.

I would LOVE to know what happened here

 

that sucks!!!!!! i hipe the insurance company treats you well.. maybe it could put you into a newer one... don't give up on the s2k yet

 

No idea. Haven't heard of this happening with a stock S before! Glad you're okay though!

 

so, check for that oil filter. How much you want to bet it backed off and sprayed oil all over the headers which then caught on fire. <my best guess

 

^^that would be my guess as well!

 

Hope this works out to your favor!


If you carry an extinguisher, make sure it's a Class C Halon or FM 200. They are expensive, but what is your car or loved one's worth.

 

I had a CRX that did the same thing at a stop light. Motor just cut off when I stopped, when I cranked it back up and flames came out my hood. I got out an opened the hood and beat the flames out with my shirt I took off. Ends up my hard brake line just snapped in two and sprayed hot brake fluid all over the electrical connections shorting them out. I agree with GrandMasterKhan fluid was involved with the fire. Just thought I would share.

 

Its happened before....it will happen again.

My guess is the tech that did your oil change did a hand tightening rather than using the filter tool to tighten the oil filter. It came loose and and oil leaked out and caught fire.

 

Moving to S2000 talk as this post is a better fit for that forum