Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 (edited) Honestly I’m not entirely surprised. It’s 19 years old, had 217,000 miles on it. It had been smoking for a bit, but dh said it would be fine. We were planning on getting a newer one when we got our taxes back. I went grocery shopping with my oldest and youngest this evening. When we got back I had to change the baby and he needed to nurse, so the kids were bringing the groceries in. They came in to say the van was smoking bad and they saw sparks. Dh ran out with a fire extinguisher and called 911. The neighbor ran over with a fire extinguisher. I brought our hose around and the neighbor brought his. We were able to get the $400 worth of groceries and all the car seats out. Dh and the neighbor just about had it under control before the fire department arrived. I’m so so thankful that dh was there. I can’t imagine if all 5 kids were with me out somewhere. Here’s what it looked like under the hood. Edited April 18, 2023 by Elizabeth86 49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 How frightening for everyone. Huge hugs I was in a van that caught fire when I was about 9. I got my baby sister out and my father put the fire out, luckly the fire was just located around the battery and the drives seat/carpet area and the van was ok 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historically accurate Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 ((Elizabeth)) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Yikes!!!! Glad you are all ok!!!! Sorry about the van. 🙁 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Oh my gosh. I am so so so so happy you are all ok. My gosh. How scary. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 I'm so glad you are all safe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSera Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 That is so scary. I'm so glad everything is okay (and this makes me want to put fire extinguishers in all the cars). 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 I'm so sorry, how frightening! You do win the catchiest post title. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 I'm so sorry, but so thankful you are all okay. ❤️ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Scary! A college friend had her car catch fire on the highway. I am glad you were home and that it didn't spread! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 21 minutes ago, kbutton said: Scary! A college friend had her car catch fire on the highway. I am glad you were home and that it didn't spread! Yea! So much to be thankful for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 32 minutes ago, Starr said: I'm so sorry, how frightening! You do win the catchiest post title. 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 32 minutes ago, Starr said: I'm so sorry, how frightening! You do win the catchiest post title. 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Louise Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Glad you and the kids are OK! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 That is so scary! Glad you are all okay though. Seems like that was a pretty close one with the kids bringing groceries in - I'd be pretty shaken up over all that! Sending hugs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Wow! That’s so scary! So…the financial mind part of me wants to know if your auto insurance is going to help out here and you will get a new van that way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 54 minutes ago, Quill said: Wow! That’s so scary! So…the financial mind part of me wants to know if your auto insurance is going to help out here and you will get a new van that way. I did not have full coverage on it because it was pretty much a piece of junk. I just googled trade in value and it is less than $1,000. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Eek! How terrifying! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 I'm so sorry. I hope you are able to find a replacement van quickly and get back on the road. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 How scary! I'm glad no one got hurt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 1 hour ago, Quill said: Wow! That’s so scary! So…the financial mind part of me wants to know if your auto insurance is going to help out here and you will get a new van that way. Same. I was thinking, well, that is a total loss, I wonder if she had full coverage but she wouldn’t have got much anyway since it is older. 47 minutes ago, Elizabeth86 said: I did not have full coverage on it because it was pretty much a piece of junk. I just googled trade in value and it is less than $1,000. I definitely think you got the good out of that vehicle. So thankful you weren’t driving down the road when that happened. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Wow, so grateful you and the kids are okay! That is scary enough with no one in the vehicle. That's awesome that your neighbor came too. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 29 minutes ago, Scarlett said: Same. I was thinking, well, that is a total loss, I wonder if she had full coverage but she wouldn’t have got much anyway since it is older. I definitely think you got the good out of that vehicle. So thankful you weren’t driving down the road when that happened. Haha yes! Dh drives vehicles until they are 💯 DONE, but this was an all time extreme. My kids were all crying though because it’s the only vehicle they have ever known. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 1 minute ago, Elizabeth86 said: Haha yes! Dh drives vehicles until they are 💯 DONE, but this was an all time extreme. My kids were all crying though because it’s the only vehicle they have ever known. Awwwww. That is sad but sweet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 3 minutes ago, Elizabeth86 said: Haha yes! Dh drives vehicles until they are 💯 DONE, but this was an all time extreme. My kids were all crying though because it’s the only vehicle they have ever known. Ds3 cried a lot when we got into an accident with our minivan when he was little. Every time he saw the big dent in the van he would burst into tears- like he thought the van was hurting in some way. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 3 minutes ago, Elizabeth86 said: Haha yes! Dh drives vehicles until they are 💯 DONE, but this was an all time extreme. My kids were all crying though because it’s the only vehicle they have ever known. I completely understand. We get very attached to our vehicles, too. We named our last van Shadowfax, and it was pretty shocking when Shadowfax suddenly died one day - and it was Christmas Eve, which was even more impactful. Where to find a rental? 😨 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 5 minutes ago, Kassia said: Ds3 cried a lot when we got into an accident with our minivan when he was little. Every time he saw the big dent in the van he would burst into tears- like he thought the van was hurting in some way. Awww. It’s so sad how they get attached to stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 (edited) 5 minutes ago, wintermom said: I completely understand. We get very attached to our vehicles, too. We named our last van Shadowfax, and it was pretty shocking when Shadowfax suddenly died one day - and it was Christmas Eve, which was even more impactful. Where to find a rental? 😨 We name ours too. Ours was the thingamajigger. We got that from the cat in the hat knows a lot about that show. lol 🎶“Here we go go go on an adventure, the thingamajigger is up away.” lol🎶 Edited April 18, 2023 by Elizabeth86 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Ha, my xh named two of my cars but never his own. My little 74 Toyota Corona he named Tojo. And my 74 Dodge Dart he named Ralph. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 I'm so glad everyone, and the groceries, and the car seats are all fine! My previous neighbor told us that he had driven through high water after a series of rainy days. He didn't give it much thought afterwards until a week or so after the rain stopped when he pulled into the gas station to fill up. The guy at the pump next to him looked over and said, "hey, your car is, um, on fire." Neighbor said that not surprisingly, no one rushes over to help you when your car is on fire sitting next to the gas pump! He pushed it away from the pump and the attendant ran out with an extinguisher. Apparently his misadventure with high water had left corn cobs stuck in the undercarriage and they finally dried out and then overheated. In his case insurance helped out with a replacement and it became a humorous story. I hope yours eventually ends in the same place. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 20 minutes ago, Miss Tick said: I'm so glad everyone, and the groceries, and the car seats are all fine! My previous neighbor told us that he had driven through high water after a series of rainy days. He didn't give it much thought afterwards until a week or so after the rain stopped when he pulled into the gas station to fill up. The guy at the pump next to him looked over and said, "hey, your car is, um, on fire." Neighbor said that not surprisingly, no one rushes over to help you when your car is on fire sitting next to the gas pump! He pushed it away from the pump and the attendant ran out with an extinguisher. Apparently his misadventure with high water had left corn cobs stuck in the undercarriage and they finally dried out and then overheated. In his case insurance helped out with a replacement and it became a humorous story. I hope yours eventually ends in the same place. Oh yikes! How awful for your neighbor! I’ll have to see if I can find a pic of the last time dh drove through high water. It wasn’t good. lol I only have liability insurance because the van is worth less than $1,000. We were going to replace it this month anyway. I guess she just had to go out in a blaze of glory. lol 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Just now, Elizabeth86 said: Oh yikes! How awful for your neighbor! I’ll have to see if I can find a pic of the last time dh drove through high water. It wasn’t good. lol I only have liability insurance because the van is worth less than $1,000. We were going to replace it this month anyway. I guess she just had to go out in a blaze of glory. lol Glad her "blaze of glory" didn't take the garage with it. 😬 I hope that you find a great Thingamajigger 2! Maybe you can get a car decal for it, like: 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 1 minute ago, Miss Tick said: Glad her "blaze of glory" didn't take the garage with it. 😬 I hope that you find a great Thingamajigger 2! Maybe you can get a car decal for it, like: I love it. Luckily we don’t have a garage and our parking area is a good way from our house. I moved dh’s truck in a hurry too so that it didn’t get taken out. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 So glad you are all ok! That is one serious blaze of glory exit. I hope you get that Thing 2 sticker for your next vehicle! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraha Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 @Elizabeth86 I’m so glad you were at home and it was handled! How scary! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeLovePassion Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Glad you are all ok! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Glad everyone and your groceries got out safely! Dd's cars are Geartrude and Wheelimina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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