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2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 571801 · 2006-02-07

Vehicle

Make
CHEVROLET
Model
TRAILBLAZER EXT
Year
2004
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Miles at failure
24,100
Speed
55 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

FULL DESTRUCTION BECAUSE OF FIRE I WAS ON THE WAY BACK FROM A LONG TRIP IN SOUTHERN CHILE (UP TO USHUAIA) OVER THE "CARRETERA AUSTRAL" AND, AFTER ABOUT 9'000 KM DRIVE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM, I SAW A WHITE SMOKE BACK MY VEHICLE. OIL PRESSURE: NORMAL, MOTOR TEMPERATURE: NORMAL. THIS MEANT IMMEDIATE STOP ALONG THE "RUTA 40 NORTE" IN ARGENTINA (ABOUT 100 KM NORTH OF BARILOCHE, ON THE WAY TO NEUQU). WHILE STOPPING, I FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST GOING WITHOUT IMMEDIATE REACTION BUT THE PRESSION CAME BACK. WHILE BRINGING THE GEAR SHIFT TO POSITION PARKING, I DID NOT FEEL ANY SENSATION, AS IF IT WOULD HAVE NO CONNECTION; THE AUTOMATIC DOOR BLOCKER CONNECTED TO THE GEAR SHIFT DID NOT WORK TOO, SO THAT WE HAD TO UNLOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY. AFTER HAVING DISCONNECTED THE ENGINE, I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE MOTOR. I OPENED THE CAPOT AND THE SMOKE CAME FROM THE LEFT CORNER (CLOSE TO THE DRIVER'S PLACE). SUDDENLY, SOME MATERIAL IN FLAMES FELL TO THE BOTTOM, ABOUT MIDDLE LIGHT LEFT OF THE CAR. I TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES WITH THE EXTINGUISHER, BUT OTHER BURNING MATERIAL FELL. OTHER PEOPLE HAD STOPPED AND HELPED ME. WE PUSHED THE CAR A LITTLE AHEAD - THOUGH THE HAND BRAKE WAS TIED AND THE GEAR SHIFT ON "P", BUT BURNING MATERIAL FELL AGAIN. IN THE MEANTIME, MY WIFE AND CHILDREN THROW OUT THE LUGGAGE, SO THAT WE COULD SAVE ALMOST ALL OF IT. BUT THE CAR BURNED ENTIRELY. WHAT COULD BE THE REASON OF THIS INCIDENT ? THANKS GOD, I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY SO THAT NOBODY

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10149632
Machine
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