Starter catching on fire

SOTOANG

MEMBER
1988 GMC C1500
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
210,769 MILES

My truck was sputtering I pulled over it cut off. I didn't realize it was still on the on position but I put gas in the carburetor It still didn't start. So as soon as I went under the hood again I seen a spark by the battery and where the starter should be on the passenger side truck blew up. What could of cause the fire? Could it been from the fumes of the gas I put in the carburetor? And the sparks ignited it?

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5 Replies

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

Yes, you hit the nail on the head. It sounds like you had a bad connection at the negative battery terminal and the currant from the starter did not have a return path to the battery. The fumes from the gas in the carburetor ignited as soon as the hood was opened and oxygen was introduced to the mix. Please keep us informed as to how everything turns out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Saturday, August 17th, 2019 AT 2:00 AM

SOTOANG

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Well after that my truck exploded. Was told it was intentionally started by gasoline in cab. My truck always smelled like gas when it was parked and after I filled up. My fuel gauge didn't work. Just before my truck was sputtering I had just fill up my tank so I knew I wasn't out of gas I even had a gas extra gas tank on hand with gasoline just in case. My damaged was in the cab left no dash what so ever just studded up wires from my radio and speakers. No steering column. It was a project truck. Was doing little by little to it. I just had the motor replaced a week before that but didn't make it back to the mechanic shop to get looked at. What do you think cause my cab to smell like gasoline? I know it had some short of fuel leak problem.

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Saturday, August 17th, 2019 AT 11:48 AM

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello again,

Fuel smell coming in through the fire wall? Where did you keep the spare gas can? I doubt you had any fuel lines running through the cab, so? Please keep us informed.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 12:37 PM

SOTOANG

MEMBER
3 POSTS

In the bed of the truck or behind the passenger seat.

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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 5:18 PM

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello again,

Well if you had a can of gas behind the back seat maybe that's where the gas smell was coming from and why it smelled like gas in the cab.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros