HELP `CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND WONT START.

Tiny
JBANR
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  • FORD WINDSTAR
88 mercury colony park wagon
caught on fire on highway, ran great until then, shut off engine when pulled over wont start again. Driving 70 mph fire only coming out back passing motorist let me know. What could it have done? Seems to be getting fuel and electric. Shut off valve shut off could it be stuck? How do I tell it problem gone? Help with any advice. Book not helpful.
thank you need car running fast or will be homeless cause wont be able to go to work.
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Saturday, May 6th, 2006 AT 9:13 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
LOSONE
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Explain in detail where the fire originated and what was burnt--
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Saturday, May 6th, 2006 AT 9:27 AM
Tiny
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I do not know where it originated because I was driving when it happened on the highway, it may have been sparked by a hanging muffler and it had a small pin hole in the gas line. But it was only burning out the back of the car while driving. When I stopped the car at the side of the road the fire went out right away. I do not know what else to tell you. Nothing looks burnt on the underside of the car. So it was being blown by the wind.
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Saturday, May 6th, 2006 AT 11:56 AM
Tiny
LOSONE
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REPAIR the gas leak first. INSURE you have fuel and spark. Remember you have a saftey switch in the rear that may have opened. What ever you do don't drive it until the hazards are fixed. Good luck and let me know
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Saturday, May 6th, 2006 AT 1:06 PM
Tiny
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I have reparied the leak and I do have spark and gasoline so do you think it is the shut off still? Could it be stuK? Any other ideas?
What exactly do you mean safety switch is that what I have been calling fuel shut off? If it is open it only needs closed or what? Thanks so much for your help.
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Saturday, May 6th, 2006 AT 2:38 PM
Tiny
LOSONE
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It is a safety switch located in the trunk. It must be pushed in to be on. It stops the fuel pump from running.

With all the cranking and trying to start the engine I would remove the plugs and make sure they are not gas fouled.

How do you know you have gas?
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Saturday, May 6th, 2006 AT 3:25 PM
Tiny
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I know I have gasoline because my fuel indicator amount still works. What ever you call it guage. I have almost 3/4 of a tank. Could this have stopped working also in the fire?
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Saturday, May 6th, 2006 AT 4:35 PM
Tiny
PEPPERMRJ
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You need to check if you have fuel pressure. The safety switch Losone mentioned or as you say "fuel shutoff" in the trunk might have turned the fuel pump off. To reset it you simply push the button. :)
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Sunday, May 7th, 2006 AT 10:53 PM
Tiny
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Thank you it is the same switch but I also realized it is not in the trunk because it is a wagon but it is the same thing.
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Monday, May 8th, 2006 AT 1:58 PM

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