[DML] Engine Fires

[raddad@xxxx]

For some reason people always seem to think that if one person is right,
then others with a different point of view must be wrong. How narrow!

The question has come up that if the fuel system of the DeLorean is a
"problem" that contributes to engine fires, why haven't other cars with
this same system had similar results.

I contend that it has to do with the demise of the DeLorean Motor Company.
Let me explain. People who bought Mercedes with the same system have, for
the most part, gone back to Mercedes dealers and mechanics for service.
Those folks know how to repair the systems properly. When DeLorean went
belly-up, many dealers didn't even want to mess with the cars they sold.
At that point there wasn't any good technical information exchange like we
now have. So, the cars were taken to mechanics who were unfamiliar with
the quirks of the DeLorean or the cars were worked on by the owners. Now,
there is nothing wrong with an owner mechanic, but I suspect many of these
were doing their own work out of sheer frustration, and with less than
adequate training or advice.

Bottom line - I still feel that the primary cause of these fires was
improper maintenance. If that were not the case, wouldn't we have seen
similar situations on other cars using the same or similar set-ups?

Living in the boonies, as I do, I have taken my car to ASE certified
mechanics who have, on occasion, done some pretty weird things to the car -
all with the best of intentions. Now, when I have to go to a
"non-DeLorean" repair facility, I take my manuals, I call one of the DML
"experts" and I research the archive before I go in. I print off anything
that I feel will make the mechanic more competent. I go over these with
him before I leave the car. If he is too busy to be bothered, the car
comes away with me.

I do not believe that the DML is burying it's head in the sand. At the
same time, I concur that a different placement for some of the components
in the engine compartment might have made sense. But, to this layman's
eye, this is much different and more complicated that Tankzilla's,
Lockzilla's and the like. Let's just make sure that anyone who messes
around in that section of the engine compartment knows what they are doing
and the potential consequences of sloppy work.

And, yes, I do carry a fire extinguisher. To me that is a necessary as a
spare tire.


I apologize in advance if the tone of this sounded like a lecture.

Dick Ryan
VIN 16867