You've probably seen the commercials. Dodge's Durango has been studying up the last two years, and it's back for 2011 stronger, smarter, more efficient, yada yada yada. It's a cute commerical, but apparently they left out one habit it took up in the past two years: smoking.
People are walking awfully close to a vehicle with flames in the engine.
Also: Wouldn't it be smarter to close the hood and not feed oxygen to the fire until the fire department arrives?
GJ said about 2 hours later
If you're not putting a fire out, it's generally a bad idea to be near any uncontrolled fire. Yes on the hood close--my guess is they thought the engine overheated, in which case you would pop the hood. Once the fire revealed itself, then close it and call 911.
Don't think I'd even try a fire extinguisher on it. That's what car insurance is for. Or, in my case, time to buy a new used car.
Good to see American car companies back on a hot streak! :)
I apologize for the terrible pun, I had to.
GJ said about 24 hours later
Love it!
No worries, Steve, I'll pick on any other car company that I can, this one just was too easy.
Geoff said 1 day later
I was waiting for the explosion. No fun! :)
GJ said 1 day later
Cars don't generally explode, except in the movies. Watch some more MythBusters instead of Transformers IX: Help, I've Fallen and Can't Get Up.
Geoff said 2 days later
I don't think they generally catch fire either, except in Dodge's case who seem to have it down to a science!
GJ said 2 days later
Fires are way more common than explosions. Gas burns pretty well. Fumes are the only explosive part of gasoline, and the gas tank is designed to minimize that. So, explosions generally only happen if you're doing something like transporting gas (propane, oxygen, hydrogen) cylinders.
Geoff said 3 days later
Still, I'm surprised more folks didn't back away with the thought that it could explode.
GJ said 3 days later
Curiosity killed the cat.
Steve said 9 days later
What, no picking on the Volt that not only burned down a garage, but relit itself on fire a couple days later?
In both cases, the circumstances behind the fires are not yet known. The Durango was towing a float. What kind of electrical crap did they hook up to the car for trailer brakes or to power the float? Don't know that yet.
Did the Volt cause the fire, or did something else? Don't know.
This posting is just as bad as fox news - claiming cars catch on fire without knowing the whole story.
The Challenger that burned up in the plant - that could have been a lot of things, not necessarily the car.
All that said, I'd rather have a car slowly burn down than unintentionally accelerate like our favorite Toyotas....
