Vehicle fires often happen because owners neglect or overlook important aspects of vehicle maintenance and safety. By properly maintaining and ensuring safety measures according to the correct guidelines, you can minimize the chances of your car catching fire.
However, it is highly important to know what can cause vehicle fires. So, let’s dive in this article and uncover some of the factors!
Fuel leaks
Fuel leaks are a major reason why vehicles catch fire in Malaysia. When petrol or diesel, which are flammable substances, leak from a vehicle, and there’s oxygen and sparks from faulty wiring, it can lead to fires.
These fuel-related fires usually happen due to damaged fuel lines or faulty fuel injection and connection systems that are not maintained properly.
Faulty electrical system
Another common reason for vehicle fires is when the electrical system stops working properly. Let’s take the car battery as an example. It supplies power to start the engine and run the car’s electronics.
Surprisingly, even though car batteries are small, they can produce hydrogen gas while charging, which can lead to explosions. So, if something goes wrong with the battery or the cables that connect it, it can cause a fire.
Another thing to watch out for is a broken light bulb. Believe it or not, the filament in a headlight can get extremely hot, reaching temperatures of up to 1,400 °C. If you don’t fix it right away, it can cause a short circuit and start a fire.
Engine overheating
It’s common for old cars to experience engine overheating if the owner doesn’t take care of maintenance. This happens when things like the relay, radiator fan, or water pump stop working properly or if the radiator has leaks.
When the engine overheats, combined with flammable liquids like oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and coolant, it can create a dangerous fire risk.
Additional accessories
Improperly installing accessories like dashcams that don’t meet the right standards can lead to fires while driving. When the installation is not done correctly, it can cause a short circuit and even result in damage like car fires.
That’s why it’s important to have your car accessories installed by a skilled technician. Doing amateur repairs or installations can create dangerous situations that might end up costing you financially.
Highly flammable items
For some people, cars are not just for getting around, but also for storing things they need every day. But not everything is safe to leave in the car. Here are some things that can catch fire and shouldn’t be kept in your car:
- Aerosol Cans
- Lighter.
- Plastic bottle
- Electronic Goods
- Rubbing alcohol
Smoking while driving
We often see people smoking while driving, but it can be dangerous if we forget about safety. Just picture this: a truck driver casually flicking a cigarette butt out of the window. Now imagine it falling in the back of a truck filled with flammable stuff like wood.
Highly possible for fire to break out. So, it’s best to avoid smoking while driving, especially if you have flammable things with you.
Road accidents
Modern cars have special zones that help safeguard important parts like fuel tanks, engines, and batteries during accidents. But, depending on how severe the collision is and the circumstances, these areas can also get damaged.
For instance, if the battery or alternator gets affected, it might create sparks and come into contact with leaked flammable liquids, potentially causing a fire in other parts of the vehicle.
We hope this article has provided you with enough information to prepare yourself to face unexpected situations. Always be safe on the road and secure yourself and your vehicle with the right auto insurance!
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