Interesting observation

1791 Views 23 Replies 14 Participants Last post by fjsspr, Jul 7, 2008

fjsspr

Discussion Starter · Jul 3, 2008

I busted my matrix’s tranny about 2 weeks ago and I spent a whole week hunting for a used tranny in every junkyard there is! Now I went to about 10 junkyards and I saw 5 fj’s in total. Funny thing is 3 of them in 3 different junkyards were all burned inside! I’m talking about melted interiors, dash, steering wheel, and paint! Fire seemed to have started inside because most of the hood, rear and lower sides where some what intact. Now I ask myself, what is up with this ??? I wasn’t aloud to take picture for some reason so I'm sorry I have no pic : (

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

rons8888

· #2 · Jul 3, 2008

That is surprising. Haven't seen anything about FJ in cabin fires, occasional engine area or something under the vehicle catching ablaze.

Just wondering, if smoking is prevalent. Maybe cigarette fires?

jpayork

· #3 · Jul 3, 2008

Search function! There's been a bunch of threads on FJ's going up in smoke! Don't remember all the causes though.

SwiCago

· #4 · Jul 3, 2008

One guy in Canada had a burn out, but it was caused by his dealer installing some wiring incorrectly. I think it was a block heater issue.

FamilyJ

· #5 · Jul 3, 2008

Insurance Fraud?

FJDave

· #6 · Jul 3, 2008

Or theft....too bad. We could use some of the interior parts too...

FJ FunJunkie

· #7 · Jul 3, 2008

ayum, I wish I was in Puerto Rico. Sounds like some good spare parts. I havn't seen any around here.

jeshua

· #8 · Jul 3, 2008

fjsspr said:
I busted my matrix’s tranny about 2 weeks ago and I spent a whole week hunting for a used tranny in every junkyard there is! Now I went to about 10 junkyards and I saw 5 fj’s in total. Funny thing is 3 of them in 3 different junkyards were all burned inside! I’m talking about melted interiors, dash, steering wheel, and paint! Fire seemed to have started inside because most of the hood, rear and lower sides where some what intact. Now I ask myself, what is up with this ??? I wasn’t aloud to take picture for some reason so I'm sorry I have no pic : (

bummer on the trans man. Any idea on why the trans went?
do you hang with redline9k and the other PR MO group?

I know of a couple FJ's that went up in smoke because of installs gone wrong.

sephcm

· #9 · Jul 3, 2008

FamilyJ said:
Insurance Fraud?

The source of an electrical fire in a car is hard to determine because so much of the "evidence" burns away. Any decent fire and the car is a total write off for the insurance company.

fjsspr

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 3, 2008 (Edited)

jeshua said:
bummer on the trans man. Any idea on why the trans went?
do you hang with redline9k and the other PR MO group?

I know of a couple FJ's that went up in smoke because of installs gone wrong.

Gustavo aka redliner, YES I DO! lol! hes probably the best toyota tunner in the island!

my tranny went while I was racing a trd s/c'ed scion tc!, shifted into 3rd and it went like butter! all I felt was a grind followed by a loud pop, then all the other gears started grinding! pieces where found all over. Funny thing is I quickly shifted into 4th, hit lift a short after and managed to pass him lol! I got a used tranny for $700, came out of a 2005 corolla xrs with about 20k miles, good deal IMO.

here is the original thread
Another tranny gone bad (updated with pics!) - 9thgencorolla.com

my car
this is actually readliner running my car
YouTube - Matrix Xrs Dyno Puerto Rico part 2

and some flybys lol!
Video of flybyfast - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Video of 1st gear roll - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

used tranny I got (its dirty because it was left outside for about 2 weeks when they got it, but I cleaned it before installing it)

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fjsspr

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 3, 2008

FJ FunJunkie said:
ayum, I wish I was in Puerto Rico. Sounds like some good spare parts. I havn't seen any around here.

I was actually surprised to see many Fj's in junk yards down here! I saw a few that had a crushed roof, like flat crushed on the drivers side! another one was hit from the side really really bad!!! I started my search in a big toyota junkyard about 30 mins away from my house. Thats why I saw so many fj's. I also saw a red tacoma x runner that was split in half! that was scary

jeshua

· #12 · Jul 3, 2008

Makes me miss my Xrs. From what I use to read over at matrix owners when I owned mine Red seemed to be one of the best period.

I could never keep it out of lift.

Good luck with the new trans and with the old one as a back up lets hope that Gustavo and his guys can do something nice with it for you.

gnwhite

· #13 · Jul 3, 2008

Pretty mean sounding matrix!

MissFJ

· #14 · Jul 4, 2008

jpayork said:
Search function! There's been a bunch of threads on FJ's going up in smoke! Don't remember all the causes though.

searched :bigthumb: didn't find chit. smoke, electrical, fire, total* whatevs.

Anyone care to fill me with more details?

opblood:

MissFJ

· #15 · Jul 4, 2008

fjsspr said:
. I also saw a red tacoma x runner that was split in half! that was scary

length wise or width? :shinner:

fjsspr

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 4, 2008

gnwhite said:
Pretty mean sounding matrix!

thanks man!

MissFJ said:
length wise or width? :shinner:

legthwise :S

TOILET

· #17 · Jul 5, 2008

I watch the salvage pool auctions, & most of the FJ's I have seen have been rolled, or collision. I see alot of interior fires in any type of vehicle caused by cheap cell phone accesories, or other power adapters left plugged into the cigarette/power points. Many times those things will start a fire without popping the fuse. The other common cause of fires is aftermarket accessories with hoakey installation & cheap electrical connectors.

fjsspr

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 6, 2008

TOILET said:
I watch the salvage pool auctions, & most of the FJ's I have seen have been rolled, or collision. I see alot of interior fires in any type of vehicle caused by cheap cell phone accesories, or other power adapters left plugged into the cigarette/power points. Many times those things will start a fire without popping the fuse. The other common cause of fires is aftermarket accessories with hoakey installation & cheap electrical connectors.

that makes sense! sometimes I leave my cell phone charger or my radar detector connected for DAYS! even if the vehicle is parked and/or not running....

MIGZ

· #19 · Jul 7, 2008

TOILET said:
I watch the salvage pool auctions, & most of the FJ's I have seen have been rolled, or collision. I see alot of interior fires in any type of vehicle caused by cheap cell phone accesories, or other power adapters left plugged into the cigarette/power points. Many times those things will start a fire without popping the fuse. The other common cause of fires is aftermarket accessories with hoakey installation & cheap electrical connectors.

How much has been the average price on a rolled FJ.

RoverGGM

· #20 · Jul 7, 2008

fjsspr said:
that makes sense! sometimes I leave my cell phone charger or my radar detector connected for DAYS! even if the vehicle is parked and/or not running....

It makes sense except on the FJ the aux power outlet is powerless without the ignition key on. Let's assume any phone/accessory charger owner has enough sense to yank it out once it starts smokin'

Highbeams for one had his interior roasted during a botched fender bulge/crack repair because the shop didn't pull the dash. Welding splatter from the firewall got inside and a fire resulted.

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

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