Anybody experience an alternator fire before? I drive a 2012 R-Spec, about 50,000 miles on it.
My alternator (I think but not positive yet) caught fire driving home yesterday. The battery warning light came on for about a minute and went away, then about five minutes later I hear a low-pitch whine/whirring sound, shortly followed by everything in the car flashing on/off. I pulled over right away and shut it down.
There was a lot of smoke coming from the engine bay and a strong smell of burnt wires, which continued to get worse. I looked closer and noticed some flames from below the alternator. I dumped a bottle of water on it, ran across the street to a gas station and borrowed a fire extinguisher and a bucket of water. By the time I got back it had mostly burnt itself out so I just dumped the water and didn't use the extinguisher.
About an hour later the tow truck was able to start it and drive it onto the truck.
Does anybody have any ideas what this could be, or the extent of damage? I'm not positive it was the alternator, but the fire was in the right location.
About a week ago the battery and A/C compressor were replaced. It'd been running fine before this.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
My alternator (I think but not positive yet) caught fire driving home yesterday. The battery warning light came on for about a minute and went away, then about five minutes later I hear a low-pitch whine/whirring sound, shortly followed by everything in the car flashing on/off. I pulled over right away and shut it down.
There was a lot of smoke coming from the engine bay and a strong smell of burnt wires, which continued to get worse. I looked closer and noticed some flames from below the alternator. I dumped a bottle of water on it, ran across the street to a gas station and borrowed a fire extinguisher and a bucket of water. By the time I got back it had mostly burnt itself out so I just dumped the water and didn't use the extinguisher.
About an hour later the tow truck was able to start it and drive it onto the truck.
Does anybody have any ideas what this could be, or the extent of damage? I'm not positive it was the alternator, but the fire was in the right location.
About a week ago the battery and A/C compressor were replaced. It'd been running fine before this.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
