Last week a VW golf, 90s one broke down and immediately a fair sized grass fire started opposite my driveway. Lucky the wind was going the other way.

There was about 30 fire fighters and a dozens tucks and cops. Burned down about 6 acres of land.

They put it down to the vw breaking down, flames from the exhaust.

It was the couple driving the car that called 000. The fire appeared at the edge of the road just as the engine stopped dead and the rolled to a stop. There was no one else around.

Im thinking timing belt broke. Then in overrun sput flames out the tail pipe. The authorities believe it was from the car.


hmmmm

My bet it was the heat from the catalytic converter.

The owners manual tells you not to stop on dry grass for that reason.

actually they did not stop on the grass. they stopped about 200m down from where the fire started and the engine stopped. Even where they rolled to a stop wasn't on the grass. was still on the sealed part.

The grass was mowed short on the shoulders so I highly doubt it was a direct contact with exhaust.

They said it lost power and slowly rolled to a stop still in gear. When they cranked it, its just spun fast like no compression.

I'd think if the timing belt broke and they tryed to push the pedal to make it go. The engine still spinning in gear and valves not moving and/or bent. Fuel just going straight in and out.

We once bought a cheap nissan EXA turbo hatchback. owners didn't tell us of the bent valves. It cranked and poped and farted with copious amounts of blue flames out the exhaust, would not start.

Found the belt was broken and the valves were stuck sideways in the ports lol.

Once my friend was on a security shift driving to a from. Some girl started to race him in her camry lol. She just kept going in 1st all the way to 80+ still going in 1st and then Pop! black smoke and flames and then quietly coasted to a stop. Wouldn't restart and got towed lol. Probably the same thing.

Anyway thats what I reckon, Engine stopping exactly when the fire got going while still rolling, seems to be linked imo.

Fuel hose leak?

Do Golfs break timing belts?

anything with a timing belt eventually breaks if its not replaced periodically. This car looks neglected as a ford.

nope, no fuel or oil leaks on the road. engine bay was caked in oil though lol