Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Woman Attempts to Warm Minivan With Charcoal And Guess What Happened
Jalopnik ^ | 1/8/14 | Jason Torchinsky

Posted on 01/08/2014 1:52:01 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers

This really shouldn't be a shock to anyone, but for the record, let's just say it's usually a pretty bad idea to set a charcoal fire under your car. A Wisconsin woman did just that, and set her 2007 Dodge Caravan on fire. Even better, she lives in an area named after a burning torch!

The Lac du Flambeau woman was trying to start her minivan in some really awful temperatures, around -23°F, and after removing her battery and warming it indoors (smart), she decided to warm the engine block with a charcoal fire (not smart).

The inevitable fire started with the underside of the bumper, and quickly spread to all the deliciously flammable bits of rubber under the hood and around the engine bay, causing what the local news says is "about $1000" worth of damage. That would total a 2007 Caravan, right?

I kid, I kid! Still, that looks like it's way more than $1000 of damage to me — those plastic bumper covers alone aren't cheap, and it looks like grille, lights, air cleaner, hoses, and a lot more got engulfed in flames. And then there's paint. The news story also referred to the "engine chamber," which has a strangely medieval feel to it as well, so I'm going to take their estimate with a grain of salt.

So, once again, we all know it's cold, and we get desperate — but an open fire under your car is rarely a good idea.


TOPICS: Humor; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: automotive; fire; humor
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
I guess the state of Florida doesn't have an exclusive franchise on folks doing dumb stuff...
1 posted on 01/08/2014 1:52:02 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers
could’ve done better. put it under the gas tank assuming it's frozen...
2 posted on 01/08/2014 1:56:05 PM PST by varyouga
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

this works far better....

3 posted on 01/08/2014 1:57:10 PM PST by GraceG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

My brother-in-law did that to his dad’s car.


4 posted on 01/08/2014 1:57:25 PM PST by DManA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

BTW, it’s also a mistake to try to heat your house or vehicle with thermite.

Using a giant parabolic reflector to focus solar energy on your house or vehicle could also be a bit risky.


5 posted on 01/08/2014 1:57:53 PM PST by oblomov
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

Wisconsin has some very strange folks.

Most of whome wear those orange hats with ear flaps 11 months out of the year.


6 posted on 01/08/2014 1:59:09 PM PST by Oliviaforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

They should have a law against stuff like that


7 posted on 01/08/2014 1:59:31 PM PST by winodog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers
women drivers photo: Women drivers womendrivers.jpg
8 posted on 01/08/2014 2:00:51 PM PST by Snickering Hound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

At least she wasn’t in it and she is still breathing to tell the tale. I can’t believe how many die in their sleep trying to warm a tent with charcoal.


9 posted on 01/08/2014 2:00:56 PM PST by Irenic (The pencil sharpener and Elmer's glue is put away-- we've lost the red wheel barrow)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers
Reminds me of the time my dad suggested to a lady from church that she put a trouble light next to her dead battery during a bad cold snap.

After 2 days it still wasn't turning over. When we went down with a charger, we discovered she was using a florescent trouble light. She said she bought it because it was more economical than her old one.

10 posted on 01/08/2014 2:01:12 PM PST by Slump Tester (What if I'm pregnant Teddy? Errr-ahh -Calm down Mary Jo, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

The underside of that bumper is plastic.


11 posted on 01/08/2014 2:02:28 PM PST by CMailBag
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

12 posted on 01/08/2014 2:02:34 PM PST by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Snickering Hound

Um, I thought that was a Baptist parking lot on Wednesday night.


13 posted on 01/08/2014 2:03:30 PM PST by MHGinTN (Being deceived can be cured.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: varyouga

Gasoline itself doesn’t freeze, but some of the additives might. At -100F, you could have a gasoline Slurpee in your tank.

But that probably isn’t likely anywhere outside Antarctica.


14 posted on 01/08/2014 2:03:35 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (I'm not anti-government, government's anti-me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers
Burning Coal? Doesn't she know what it does to the environment, the planet? /s

15 posted on 01/08/2014 2:03:38 PM PST by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

Ironic that she is from a town with a name meaning “Lake of the Torch”


16 posted on 01/08/2014 2:04:35 PM PST by The Unknown Republican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Slump Tester

That’s another downside to the incandescent bulb ban. A drop light occasionally comes in handy for fitting close-tolerance parts together as well.


17 posted on 01/08/2014 2:05:07 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (I'm not anti-government, government's anti-me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: The Unknown Republican

Also ironic is the name of the post’s author. :)


18 posted on 01/08/2014 2:06:04 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (I'm not anti-government, government's anti-me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Oliviaforever

“Most of whome wear those orange hats with ear flaps 11 months out of the year.”

Well, by golly, I think we’ve found a solution. We just need to make orange hunting caps big enough to fit over a car, and Wisconsonites’ problems are over!


19 posted on 01/08/2014 2:06:07 PM PST by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers



20 posted on 01/08/2014 2:06:17 PM PST by Bratch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson