When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Thank you all for following this and other posts of mine, but I sadly need to report that my Disco went up in flames on Saturday night!
Saturday noon I went in to replace the throttle cable and also installed the PCV mod, replaced upper intake gasket and relocated the coils using Extinct's option. I'm confident that all done was done well.
I tried to run the compression test myself just on cyl 5, needle didn't move much, si decided to have a mechanic do that for me. Packed up everything and started to drive home -a 12 mile drive aprox.
While driving I still felt the Disco as before, sputtering, backfiring and with loss of power, more so on both of the incline up the highway towards home. When finally off the highway and a stop light, it shut off; stop light still red so I started it again and someone pulled next to me and mentioned flames underneath. So I got out, saw the catalytic converter engulfed in flames and someone handed me a bottle of water and was able to put it off, but there were more flames up above -I'm guessing old oil, heat and what nots kept it alive. So grabbed my belongings and stepped away to call 911.
FIre consumed it from the center towards the front, and it went up in flames pretty quick. Firemen took long to arrive, so it was pretty flaming hot when they did, nothing else but to put it out was left to do. And that's the end of it. Thankfully no damages to myself or other, just the loss of a beloved truck.
Now I'm dealing with the aftermath of a burnt vehicle and unload it from my life. ;-/#
It was great and faithful throughout these years, and it kept me busy and was able to find this community of like-minded owners that try to help as much as they can, so I thank you all for that
At the end of the day, although I'm sure I just had some cylinder/s issues, the catalytic converter must had been pretty banged up and just simply did not take any more during my troubleshooting. I should had taken it to a mechanic or parked it -you live, you learn.
I guess you will not be seeing me much around the Forum for some time, but we'll see what the Land Rover Gods hold for me in the future, I may be in the market for another one. Good Luck to you all ...pick your battles, tread lightly and may the Land Rover Gods smile upon y'all!
Seems the end was caused by lots of unburned fuel dumping into the cat, probably from cyl 5. Was the left side cat glowing, or both sides? Maybe could have been prevented by disconnecting #5 injector plug?
Wow dude! Really sorry. I had a car burn. Disconnected fuel line pumping raw fuel. Don't ask how that happened. I know it's not fun. Glad you got out safely.
Seems the end was caused by lots of unburned fuel dumping into the cat, probably from cyl 5. Was the left side cat glowing, or both sides? Maybe could have been prevented by disconnecting #5 injector plug?
If we are lucky, you'll get another one soon.
Thanks for your comments JOHNZO, but I guess we will not know for sure if that was the reason, but I DO believe the fire started in the cat. I actually read about "glowing red cats" a couple days back in this forum, and I have read about 'DISCO INFERNO" long time ago from one of the oldest members of this forum -so this was in the back of my mind; but after reading about it just recently, I tried to take a peak every now and then while troubleshooting the actual issue, and did not get a chance to see it glowing so felt I was "safe". Since the truck had been parked for a week due to the throttle cable, I immediately forgot to check the cat on my drive home. Anyways, may this be a heads up for other participants in the Forum, to immediately troubleshoot persistent misfires and backfires, sputtering and loss of power, and if SES LIGHT IS BLINKING, TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION DETERMINING THE FAULT.
As per getting another one soon, may the odds be in my favor! ;-]#
Wow dude! Really sorry. I had a car burn. Disconnected fuel line pumping raw fuel. Don't ask how that happened. I know it's not fun. Glad you got out safely.
Thanks H20nSnow! ...yup, no fun whatsoever; but as you say, no damage to myself or others and that's more than enough to be thankful. As I saw it burn, I took it calmly and as a learning moment.
Hi Adolfo. Like you and everyone else commenting, I'm glad you're okay. It must have been a surreal experience to see your truck go up in flames. Thank God for the guy in the car next to you who alerted you to the fire. He may have saved your life by getting you out of the truck before it was engulfed.
Let me suggest that you post a new thread focused on what can happen if a vehicle is driven with flashing Service Engine Soon light illuminated. Perhaps you could title it "..:: The Flaming Discovery Situation ::.. As it is, the story of the fire is kind of buried in this thread.
