Crash Bytes (Jan '05)

(Happy New Year '05 to all of you!  This is the first of our new monthly e-mail info pieces, which you can expect to receive at about the middle of each month.  Our goal is to present relevant, helpful information in easy-to-digest, bite-size pieces.)

Fire Cause & Origin

Did you know that 9 out of 10 vehicle fires, that are not intentionally set, result from improper service/repair?  This is true, according to Lee Cole, the pioneer and industry-acknowledged master of vehicle fire investigation (now deceased).  And did you know that power steering fluid has a lower ignition temperature (catches fire at a lower temperature) than gasoline?

Case In Point:  A 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser caught fire and burned only three days after the power steering high-pressure hose was replaced at a local dealership.  Turns out the service tech forgot to properly tighten the connector, and the leaking fluid ignited on the nearby exhaust manifold!