General Ford Technical Discussion

STREETBOSS_65 · #1 01-02-2010, 07:40 AM

Those of you who have been to a cruise night or car show that runs into the evening know that my Mustang has "undercarriage Light". Some people may think that at 44yrs. old that that's a little kiddish, but it was a gift and after a year of pondering over the idea of installing them, I finally did and found them to be pretty cool! I have white underneath and red in the hood scoop that gave off a hot like fire glow. The kids loved it! And, I had a button installed so if I was ridding along someone and hit the throttle, all would light up like a jet with an afterburner effect. Anyway, my story!

A couple of days before Christmas, I had to get a last minute gift hor my wife and as you all know we had a bit of a snow storm. Well my truck was in the shop and since the main roads were pretty clear I drove my Mustang. Well as I was driving up Nottingham Way in Hamilton a truck in the opposite lane, kicked into my lane a ice boulder which went under my car. Next thing I hear is a big thud and chinging. At the next intersection, someone drove up along side of me advised me that a row of lights were dragging underneath my car. I then pull into the next parking lot to access the damage. My front lights and the row of lights that ran on the passenger side was destroyed! No biggy! Because I was told at install that they can break, I had purchased a set for just such a incident. ***Now this is what I'm warning you about!!!

So I yank the lights from under the car and throw them in the trash and continue on my mission. I drive around and pick up the kids from school like any other day. As I past a mail box I stop and hop out of the car drop off the last of our Christmas cards. As I'm returning to the car I notice some white smoke coming from under the hood. Well I'm thinking that I kicked up some slush and it must be vapors. As I get into the car and put it in gear, I now see black smoke comming from under the hood and now I smell something burning! I hop out of the Mustang and pop the hood to find a ball of flame on the drivers side of the engine compartment! I grab my fire extinguisher and quickly put it out!!! In about 5 seconds, it re-ignited!!! I put it out again!!! and it re-ignited, again!!! Realizing that this was the relay from the undercarriage lights, when I put it out once again, I yanked the damn thing out and threw it across the road, then went to the battery and yanked out the wiring that led to it!!!

After checking the car for damage as a result of the fire, I was "very lucky" and found no damage at all!!! The guy who installed the relay, had it suspended, not affix to the bobdy of the car. No the way it was suppose to be but his laziness altimately may have save my Mustang from some serious damage!!! When I got back into my car I happened to notice that I had tripped the switch to the lights which must have sent power to one of the exposed wire that must have been touching metal, creating the fire within the relay.

Moral of this story??? Avoid undercarriage lights! Or, if you do get them be mindfull to disconnect from the battery if one becomes broken! Also keep in mind that you may not realize it if one breaks, making you vulnerable for a car fire. I'm lucky that I didn't flick that switch while getting out of my car after parking it in the garage along side my wife's Mustang!!!

555 · #2 01-02-2010, 08:16 AM

that sucks but glad you are ok and so is your stang

**Stangman Jonathan** · #3 01-02-2010, 11:48 AM

oh wow glad to hear bigger damage was avoided....thats how many rice buckets go up in flames sometimes....nothing against glow lights under the cars because I love them.....just need to find a good installer who knows what he's doing and basically not drive your car in the rain if you have them I guess

Just glad your alright.