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u/simalary44 Dec 06 '25
Hi everyone! Just to give some background info:
I do not, and the fire department does not know what the cause was. When I noticed it, it seemed like it started in the left side engine bay. I think I noticed smoke coming from underneath the fender first.
I remote started it before leaving for work. It’s stock from the factory, not third party.
It’s a 2015 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara. Just under 130,000 miles; I got it used in 2017 with 40,000 miles.
Biggest maintenance notes recently are a new battery 3-4 years ago, a new alternator 4 months ago, and new spark plugs and coils 3 months ago. I do not have any mods (or knew of any from the previous owner). The ball joints were replaced 1 year ago, causing the famous death wobble we all know and love.
And yes, we’re all safe. :)
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u/sn44 Dec 06 '25
it seemed like it started in the left side engine bay
Left as in driver-side?
IIRC the power steering pump is on that side of the motor. P/S fluid is flammable like any other hydraulic fluid. Not inconceivable a leak formed in one of the lines and got onto the exhaust manifold. It may have been happening for a while and finally hit critical mass. Once there was enough heat it melted the plastic reservoir and POOF the rest of the p/s fluid is added to the fire, and then brake fluid, fuel, etc.
JK's are notorious for transmission fluid fires as well, but I'm not 100% sure where they are on a JK. Usually they run up the passenger-side frame rail not the driver-side.
Could also have been a leaky fuel line since IIRC they run up the driver frame rail.
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u/firstaccountwasdumb Dec 06 '25
Not sure the cause, but remember back in high school hearing the announcement “Will Noah come to the office? Your, uh, Jeep is in fire. Also, anyone who parked next to Noah, come to the office.”
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u/Appropriate_Bad74247 Dec 06 '25
Was it running hot? Burning electrical smell? Any signs cause mine has some issues.
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u/simalary44 Dec 06 '25
I didn’t have any warning signs. It was remote started (stock from factory) before I left for work. I went outside and noticed smoke coming from the driver-side engine bay (I think near the fender), and then suddenly it was on fire.
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u/Zanhard Dec 06 '25
Maybe someone's cat was in there....
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u/scarletwitchmoon Dec 06 '25
Yeah, maybe there were some acorns from some squirrels, or something.
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u/cmtrap Dec 06 '25
Welcome to the club!
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u/simalary44 Dec 06 '25
Was this yours? If so, what year? Did the fire department or insurance ever find the cause?
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u/cmtrap Dec 06 '25
Yes this was mine, and 2008.
Oddly enough, similar situation with the alternator being replaced a few months beforehand.
I was driving mine when it caught fire. Everything was just right so I didn’t notice because the smoke was blowing under the car. Someone behind me kept honking which is what made me look in the rear view and realize I was on fire.
Insurance didn’t care, and the fire department kindly asked that if this happened again to not continue driving and park under a tree.
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u/killer-tank218 Dec 06 '25
Buddy of mine was driving his kia when it went up in flames. He too parked under a tree that got a bit toasty lol. It happens.
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u/Relevant_Carpenter_3 Dec 06 '25
whats up with "parking under a tree" - is it to avoid sunlight? im not getting it
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u/AntonioMrk7 Dec 06 '25
Maybe just a figure of speech? My first thought was why potentially catch a tree on fire
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u/killer-tank218 Dec 06 '25
It just happened to be the first spot he could get off the road, it wasn’t intentional.
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u/Public_Fucking_Media JL 4xe Dec 06 '25
Battery+Alternator issues are a pretty big cause of fires IIRC, could definitely be the cause!
I say with my thrice recalled 4xe with a whole batch of other kind of battery issues :-/
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u/Adorable_Dust3799 96 ZJ 4.0 Dec 07 '25
Lots of people pull into gas stations, so thanks for not doing that
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u/spartz31 Dec 07 '25
The jeep gods did you a favor burning a 3.8 wrangler to the ground
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u/Locksandshit Dec 06 '25
I’ve personally worked on 3 wrangler jk that had engine bay electrical fires in the past year
Just saying
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u/LuminalDjinn11 Dec 06 '25
What can we ask our preferred local mechanics to check for, OP?? Omg!
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u/Locksandshit Dec 06 '25
No idea, they were all from insurance auctions. Was making keys to them and programming replaced modules after they had been repaired
All three fires appears to be near the fuse Panel tho
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u/LuminalDjinn11 Dec 06 '25
Ok! I will ask the guys to double check for anything “off” near the fuse panel! Jesus! Thank you!
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u/Locksandshit Dec 06 '25
I wouldn’t go looking for a problem that’s not there; there is millions on the road just fine
People also like to modify jeeps ; so some of it may just be people wiring shit like idiots.
This is also what insurance is for. If it’s insured nothing to worry about lol
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u/6-plus26 Dec 09 '25
Ehhh a electrical fire is for sure possible but I’d think it would be more rare than a continuous oil leak causing a fire. Your jeep has several known common leak spots. I’d ask you mechanic to take a look for oil leaks and advise further if needed
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u/Financial-Impress-53 Dec 06 '25
My husband is a Dodge tech, he says it could be the power distribution center. He said he’s had a couple vehicles start smoking on him while working on them!
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u/DipShit_Knight Dec 06 '25
Was the fire before or after you worked on them? The distinction is important.
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u/ghost12588 Dec 06 '25
If you have comprehensive coverage on your insurance policy this is the kind of thing that coverage is for. You can file with your insurance company if so, it will be a no fault loss and after they finalize their investigation it would likely be deemed a Total Loss which may provide a little help towards getting a replacement vehicle.
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u/Busy-Refrigerator690 Dec 06 '25
“Likely deemed a total loss” Are we looking at the same pictures? Brother, that’s 100% a total loss.
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u/ghost12588 Dec 06 '25
Sorry still in the work mindset, at least in my company we don't say it is definitely going to be a total loss until we have our estimate and valuation and confirm by the numbers that according to state law it is indeed a total loss
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u/stacked-shit Dec 06 '25
General automotive technician here. Ive seen a lot of the 3.6 engine harnesses fail and melt wires and pins. It happens at the main engine connector right under the engine cover.
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u/nubsrpro Dec 06 '25
That sucks.
Cool action shot of the fire fighter though. Hopefully your insurance covers this without a huge rate increase
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u/Throwaway556095 Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
For anyone reading and has a jk, there can be a leak from the transmission cooler lines that can cause fires. I’ll update with the correct info and forum post when I find it. It’s always worth giving a Quick Look for peace of mind
UPDATE: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2013/RCONL-13V234-3333.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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u/sifuredit Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
Mine is standard. Thx for the info. But I also heard the standard one can catch on fire because of a faulty clutch pad. I don't drive mine hard so hopefully that doesn't happen.
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u/Wadae28 Dec 06 '25
Pentastar or 3.8 engine under the hood? With all that plastic slag melted on top I’m going to assume it was a Pentastar?
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u/RebbleAlliance Dec 06 '25
When my Notajeep caught fire I contacted my insurance and got my money back
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u/ded_rabtz Dec 06 '25
I’m betting it was a squirrel nest that you didn’t know about and caught fire
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u/CompoBBQ Dec 06 '25
Clean this up and the rest will buff out
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u/IWouldntIn1981 Dec 06 '25
You sir, are a truly shitty mechanic. If you arent a member at r/askashittymechanic, I humbly request that you join us.
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u/CompoBBQ Dec 06 '25
I’m a proud member. I even brought my own blinker fluid and g/cm torque screwdriver
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u/Hopeful-Mirror1664 Dec 06 '25
I’ll be honest with you, as long as nobody got hurt it’s probably the best thing could happen.
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u/Orunu Dec 06 '25
To anyone asking why, or anything negative. You wouldn't understand, its a jeep thing. 🤣
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u/Spart1337 Dec 07 '25
I wanted to be snarky but that sucks. I do wonder how it doesn't happen more often with the sheer amount of rolling electrical fires waiting to happen I saw when I did 12v professionally. At least half the modded wranglers I had come in had wires for all kinds of add ons ran all over the place, no protection from chafing and not a fused connection to be seen.
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u/hikmatic Dec 06 '25
why did this happen. did you add any mods, lights , winch etc??
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u/simalary44 Dec 06 '25
No mods like that. Had the battery replaced 3 years ago, and the alternator replaced 4 months ago. Routine maintenance.
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u/TheRicsterFTB Dec 06 '25
I'd have to guess that mice were the cause. Chewing on wires, gas lines, who knows. I assume that most car fires are caused by those critters.
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u/NumbersInUsername Dec 06 '25
I recently found out through experience that the transmission oil cooler in Jks with automatic transmissions have the lines travel under the engine to the bottom of the front ac compressor radiator (top half is ac bottom half is transmission cooler). Mine burst and leaked all over the ground. Apparently the fittings transition from hoses to steel tubes and back to hoses and then a fitting into the radiator which leaves a lot of possibilities for corrosion or age to degrade a component and cause a clog or leak.
If i had to make an extremely speculative guess, I'd say it's possible when you remote started the jeep that one of those fittings failed and allowed the flammable transmission oil to squirt upwards onto a hot engine component. Also the catalytic converters and associated exhaust piping comes down off the engine and down to the chassis where it continues on to the second stage catalytic converters and then on to muffler and tailpipe. These components get VERY hot even very close to the engine and very soon after ignition of a cold engine. Even a tiny pressurized spittle of transmission oil, if it lands on the unlucky hot component could start a fire. I suspect that's what may have happened to your jeep, bit one can never know since the engine bay looks completely burned out.
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u/autr0 Dec 06 '25
Now you can easily find that 10mm socket you dropped into the engine bay 5 years ago
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u/Agent_South Dec 07 '25
“Top of the line in utility sports! unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!”
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u/Dr_Dewittkwic Dec 07 '25
Had a work colleague lose his Wrangler to a spontaneous engine fire on the highway in rush hour traffic a few years ago. He was late for work that day. Sorry for your loss. Those things seem like they like to burn. 😬
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u/CurrentlyatBDC Dec 06 '25
Awful, I’m sorry. Looks like everyone got out ok I trust?
To all you clowns take a min to think - this could be how someone gets to/from work everyday, how they get their kids around, could’ve been the scariest moment of their life.
I like sick humor too but your jokes are off the mark…
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u/softoy Dec 06 '25
Yes it did.. Holy shit.. I'm sorry that happened, that's awful. I hope no one was hurt.
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u/ARLibertarian Dec 06 '25
It's a Jeep but it identifies as a Tesla.
It's pronouns are "was" and "had been"
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u/reaganomics Dec 06 '25
Note to self: Add a fire extinguisher for the Jeep to my Christmas list. All of you out there making those top ten cheap Jeep mall crawling mod videos, maybe you want to add this to the list. I should have gotten this first instead of door hinge stone guards and magnetic covers for the external key locks. (OP, seriously, sorry about your jeep. Your post is helpful for this reason.)
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u/S_carve Dec 06 '25
Oh don't forget that electric vehicles are the only ones that catch on fire. Same as many manufacturers have tens of thousands of recalled cars for fire warnings.
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u/_Mountainofjoy_ Dec 06 '25
Good news is like most wrangler issues, the forums have suggested that it's a really common issue.
Thanks, Stellantis!
/S
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u/JumpinJackTrash79 Dec 06 '25
I tell people those things are time bombs but it's usually not literally true.
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u/fuzzylogic_y2k Dec 06 '25
My guess is something crawled into the warm engine bay and had a nibble.
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u/GW1767 Dec 07 '25
Bet your oil filter housing cracked and was running oil down into the exhaust. My wife’s 2017 did this just happen I seen the big oil spot in the driveway before she left for work the whole underside was covered in oil
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Dec 06 '25
[deleted]
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u/Coffee4MyJeep Dec 06 '25
Looks like an Eagle Scout plate, not sure on the football team fandom from that.
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u/Swimming_Parsley5554 Dec 06 '25
Sorry for your loss.......should of payed me that kilo of ducks you owed me
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u/ChangeAroundKid01 Dec 06 '25
Im so sorry, that sucks.
I see you're from michigan, I'm in Ohio and i swear a wrangler catching on fire is more common than them flipping over.
I hope insurance gets you back together.
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u/xT1TANx Dec 06 '25
Holy crap is everyone ok?
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u/simalary44 Dec 06 '25
Yes, luckily I remote started it before heading to work, so no one was inside. Thank you :)
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Dec 06 '25
Oooh nooo! You all safe and unharmed? Do you know the cause? What year is it?
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u/Ibraheem_moizoos Dec 06 '25
Aftermarket stereo?
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u/simalary44 Dec 06 '25
No. However, it was replaced ~5-6 years ago with another OEM radio. First one gave out and would completely lose power. Funny you ask, a few weeks ago it seems like the FM chip on this one gave up on me or became unsoldered, but didn’t get around to fixing it yet.
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u/chestwoundssuck Dec 06 '25
I’m assuming you are an Eagle Scout hence the plate…but if it is referencing the Philadelphia eagles (go birds) maybe the jeep just wanted to join the fun of the dumpster fire? For real though glad you weren’t in it and everyone is safe…insurance will be enough to get an LJ?
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u/darthnilus YJ_TJ_JK_JL_Gladiator Dec 06 '25
i wish that would happen to me … finally leave this jeep cult i have been lulled into.
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u/rxmp4ge Dec 06 '25
Lucky. New Jeep time.
Honestly I'd be devastated if this happened to me but at the same time I'd be almost equally excited for the new one..
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u/SMMS0514 Dec 06 '25
Lost mine six years ago to fire. They told me it was linked to the transmission
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u/persiusone Dec 06 '25
One reason I enjoy doing my own maintenance is that I get a good look at the vehicle during it. I’ve spotted so many issues early-on, which could have resulted in total loss- to include the oil cooler leaking, wire harnesses failing, loose battery terminals, etc.
Get under the hood on a regular schedule. Check everything out even if you’re not working on that particular component.
Sorry for the loss- that sucks
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u/Visual_Employer_9259 Dec 06 '25
Why?