Thread: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts

Results 1 to 16 of 16
  1. #1 Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    5
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    How's it hangin' fellow GP owners? Well, as the title of this topic indicates, my '01 GT is no more. I went out to start her yesterday and the intake blew off the engine, shattered into a thousand pieces, sent schrapnel flying everywhere and a fire erupted. What a friggin mess! No injuries to report other than a few dents in the siding where some flying pieces had hit the house!

    The car's been acting up with throttle issues (wacked out revs on idle, stalling after a 5 minute idle) so I had it parked since Christmas moving it only to let the snow plow clear the driveway every few days. Well, yesterday it wouldn't start at all as it wasn't plugged in (temps were -30 C plus wind making in feel like -41* C) . So I hooked it up to the truck for a boost and when I hit the ignition key well, that's when all hell broke loose. Several handfuls of snow later, the fire was out and my poor baby was toast. After what I'm assuming was a full on backfire of sorts, what other engine parts are damaged?! Who knows what happened to the valves and/or timing belt and/or other items when she blew with such force. Better to replace the whole engine then to start replacing one thing at a time is my thought.

    OR....

    Today, I stopped in at my local Pontiac dealer but I didn't even bother to stop at the parts & service counter to ask how much it would be to fix it. I walked straight to the used car, er, previously owned section and there was a beauty of an '05 GT waiting for me. Gonna make a few phone calls first but probably take her for a test drive tomorrow. A little fire doesn't scare me! Once a GT Gurl...always a GT Gurl!

    GT Gurl
    Reply With Quote  
     

  2. #2 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    GTX Level Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    1,326
    Thanks (Received)
    4
    Likes (Received)
    3
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    wow, glad to hear no one got hurt. thats a first i heard of something as bad as this happen. only other things i had heard of are engine fires due to leaky valve covers or fuel o-rings cracking.
    old setup-Z7 Turbo Kit w/T66, A2A I/C, stock cam & valvetrain/LS1 MAF/Ported 99TB/PowrTuner/AFC/Devils Own/LS1M Scanner/PRJ FP/42# Injs=12.3@118mph street tires -
    (Sold)BACK TO M90 Vs cam w/3.5" pulley/meth/25* timing+bolt-ons
    01 Z28 A4 HP-self-tuned, LTs, FTRA, 3600stall 12.3@112mph
    Reply With Quote  
     

  3. #3 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    The mod from over yonder TheOtherNick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Charles City, IA
    Posts
    9,955
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Glade no one got hurt. I have never herd of anything like that with the gp's.
    01 gtp-big cam e85 dd 78dodge- guzzling fuel 05 cummins- rollin coal
    SMGPFC Two Nipple General
    Reply With Quote  
     

  4. #4 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    GTX Level Member Toofastgs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tulsa, Ok
    Posts
    782
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    What mods were on the car?
    00' GTP 350/420 - Retired
    98' GS - Sold
    Current - Lexus ES300
    Reply With Quote  
     

  5. #5 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    I live here. SyntheticShield's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    8,200
    Thanks (Received)
    3
    Likes (Received)
    3
    Dislikes (Received)
    0


    Glad you're okay and no one was injured.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  6. #6 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    5
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Zero mods. Strange huh? I've never seen anything like it. I've seen a carb get blown off it's bolts and catch fire but never such a thing on an EFI. I'm still in shock although the thought of that '05 on the lot is starting easing the pain!

    GT Gurl
    Reply With Quote  
     

  7. #7 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    GTP Level Member 2000GTP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Long Island, New York
    Posts
    1,706
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Hmm. wouldnt get a new car. Just drop an L67 in it from a GTP!
    2000 GP GTP Black 2 Door AEM Meth Injection (100% Meth), 3.25" pulley, N* TB, PRJ Wires, Smoothflow Idlers, 42# injectors, Racetronix fuel pump, ZZP Headers, 1.8 Roller Rockers, Custom CAI, NGK TR6 Plugs, 180* Tstat, Custom Tuning by TUNE TIME PERFORMANCE
    Reply With Quote  
     

  8. #8 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    GrandPrix Junkie Sabrewings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Barksdale AFB, LA
    Posts
    4,879
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Sounds like you had a stuck open injector and somehow got a backfire up into the intake manifold. I've heard of similar things happening on other cars, but never on the 3800 until now.
    2004 Impala LS - got some mods sold!!!
    2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

    NAIOA moderator Still Imp'n, just in a different Imp.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  9. #9 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    GTX Level Member Warhellride's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Norfolk, VA; originally from NH
    Posts
    505
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by 2000GTP View Post
    Hmm. wouldnt get a new car. Just drop an L67 in it from a GTP!
    x2. I was thinking the same thing.

    How much was the body damaged by the fire?
    2004 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG
    2002 Redfire Metallic Grand Prix GT Coupe (sold after 141,754 miles)
    Reply With Quote  
     

  10. #10 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    GT Level Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    155
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    This is perhaps the third or fourth n/a 3800 intake explosion I've heard about.

    Here's an example:
    http://www.naioa.com/v2/modules.php?...rder=0&thold=0

    Certain models in the 1998-2000 year range had a recall on leaky FPR's, which caused fuel to get sucked into the UIM, which could cause this very explosion:
    Recalls Summary

    I do not know if 2001 or GP was ever subject to the recall.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  11. #11 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    I live here. SyntheticShield's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    8,200
    Thanks (Received)
    3
    Likes (Received)
    3
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Man, thats something that needs to be front and center for everyone to know about just in case.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  12. #12 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    GrandPrix Junkie Sabrewings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Barksdale AFB, LA
    Posts
    4,879
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Wow, I totally forgot about that one.
    2004 Impala LS - got some mods sold!!!
    2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

    NAIOA moderator Still Imp'n, just in a different Imp.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  13. #13 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    5
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Well, I'm back! ...thanks for the email reminder admin!...

    Bought that 2005 Grand Prix I was looking at back then.. but I may have to change my login name to GP Gurl as it's just a base model...no GT's no GTP's.. There are a few GT features I really miss but all in all, I love the GP all around. People called me crazy for buying another Grand Prix after the previous one exploded but what the heck...I like to live dangerously!

    The conclusion was that there was a faulty fuel injector or "residual fuel on the rails" ..though I'm not sure what the latter means...maybe from the dead battery, and trying to turn it over several times before the boost, the fuel pump was still pumping? I dunno...

    What I have learned from this is that I will never, ever, in a million years, stand in front of any car that is being boosted. If there was someone standing in front of mine when she blew, they would be dead or certainly severely injured. I think of every other boosting I've received or given...one under the hood checking the jumper cables, the other in the drivers seat..'ok..try it now.." KA-BOOM... Ya, so NEVER STAND IN FRONT OF A VEHICLE BEING BOOSTED.

    End of Public Service announcement!

    I'm sure if I have any issues with the '05, I'll be in touch fellow GP'ers.

    GT Gurl..
    Last edited by GT Gurl; 10-05-2010 at 02:19 PM.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  14. #14 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    GTX Level Member noreasonwhyy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    994
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    nice to have you back! glad you're in another GP too.

    PM bio248 if you want to change your name. i'd say leave it but that's up to you.

    97 GT - slow, rusty
    93 CTD - more slow, less rust
    Reply With Quote  
     

  15. #15 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
     

  16. #16 Re: Intake blows to pieces..fire erupts 
    I live here. TLSheff's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Durant, Oklahoma, United States
    Posts
    8,033
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by GT Gurl View Post
    What I have learned from this is that I will never, ever, in a million years, stand in front of any car that is being boosted. If there was someone standing in front of mine when she blew, they would be dead or certainly severely injured. I think of every other boosting I've received or given...one under the hood checking the jumper cables, the other in the drivers seat..'ok..try it now.." KA-BOOM... Ya, so NEVER STAND IN FRONT OF A VEHICLE BEING BOOSTED.
    That's why you do a top swap for the supercharger, its aluminum and wont explode into tiny fragments... plastic can give way, seen 2 destroyed at the dealership, 1 melted, 1 exploded.

    glad your ok, glad your in a GP, and glad your back

    Quote Originally Posted by AmericanSoldier View Post
    ...not scanning/monitoring your motor is like bangin a hooker and you just HOPE your not infected.
    Reply With Quote  
     

Similar Threads

  1. 3.8 series II sc blows smoke with rev
    By GTX in forum 3.8L V6 Supercharged (L67)(L32)
    Replies: 36
    Last Post: 10-16-2008, 01:09 PM
  2. Pieces of clutch material on my magnet...
    By copgtp in forum 1997-2007 4 speed Automatic (4T65E) (4T65E-HD)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-26-2008, 06:36 PM
  3. Interior Light Fuse Blows....
    By hester21289 in forum General Tech Discussion
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-12-2008, 08:02 PM
  4. painting dash bezel/trim pieces
    By Mikel2k7 in forum Visual/Body Modifications
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 03-09-2008, 09:27 PM
Tags for this Thread

View Tag Cloud

Bookmarks
Bookmarks
Posting Permissions
  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •