# 1998 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER 3800 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
> NHTSA complaint `510850` · 2004-12-09 · INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER
- **Model:** 3800
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
- **Miles at failure:** 69,080
- **Speed:** 20 mph
## Narrative
WHILE DRIVING THE OPERATOR SMELLED SOMETHING HOT.  UPON STOPPING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE THE OPERATOR SAW FIRE COMMING FROM BEHIND THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL.  HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.*AK    OUR MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED  THAT THE CLAMPS HOLDING THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY LEADS HAD WORN THROUGH THE INSULATION CREATING A DEAD SHORT.    THE SAME DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED ON ANOTHER OF OUR SCHOOL BUSES THAT HAD BEEN PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*