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2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

fire · 609607 · 2007-01-15

Vehicle

Make
CHEVROLET
Model
IMPALA
Year
2000
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Miles at failure
114,500

Severity

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

Narrative

AFTER NOT BEING USED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH, I TRIED TO START MY 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH 114,000 (+/-) MILES. THE CAR DID NOT START. I CONNECTED JUMPER CABLES AND AGAIN TRIED. THE CAR DID NOT TURN OVER. I WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AND THEN TRIED AGAIN. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE. I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND DISCONNECTED THE CABLES. THE TOP OF THE UPPER INTAKE HAD EXPLODED. THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER HAD DISCONNECTED AND THE OIL FILLER CAP/TUBE HAD PROJECTED TO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE TOP OF THE MOTOR, FUEL LINE AND SURROUNDING WIRES/INSULATION WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY SMOTHERING. I CALLED A MECHANIC DIRECTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT AND WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AFTER VIEWING THE RECALL FOR FOR THE 3.8L (VIN K) FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE POTENTIAL SITUATION OF A LOW BATTERY COMBINED WITH THE LEAKING REGULATOR CAUSING A BACKFIRE AND THUS EXPLOSION WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I CONTACTED LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS AND WAS THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I THEN CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE VIA A PHONE CALL ON DECEMBER 4, 2006. AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, I WAS REQUESTED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, AT MY EXPENSE, TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP SO CHEVROLET COULD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT. CHEVROLET THEN CALLED ME THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY TO TELL ME THAT THEY FEEL THE LOW BATTERY CAUSED THE EXPLOSION AND THUS, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THEIR INS

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10178691
Machine
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