Devastating loss

[theschmallfella]

That's awful to see, so sorry for you buddy. Wonderful to see so many here offering to help out with what they have, try and save it if you can, I wouldn't give up just yet. We all get very attached to our old Audi's, I can't imagine being without mine either. You should save it, it'll be worth it.

[AdrianH]

Right, I'm off to buy a fire extinguisher.

[mikes2]

Never nice to see. The main thing is that you're still around.

I'm guessing if you claim on the insurance this will probably be classed as a cat B

[theschmallfella]

Originally Posted by AdrianH

Right, I'm off to buy a fire extinguisher.

I've always had one in all of my cars since an engine fire in a Fiat Ritmo (Strada) I had back in the early 90's where I was lucky to get away before it went up in a ball of smoke. I'd highly recommend having one in any classic car.

[Hanuman]

So sorry to see this happen.

Salvage
Before you accept any settlement, take a long moment to consider-

Insurance payout + Salvage retention, for a rebuild. even with a less preferential category on the car (there’s not many about, so it’s a different matter compared to 10-15 years ago)

vs

Insurance payout + salvage retention if they’ll allow it

vs

Outright settlement


Agreed value.
If ever there were an advertisement to demonstrate the worth of an agreed value insurance policy, this would be it.

fire extinguishers
Having one capable of doing the job- it’s actually worth realising that’s its more for aiding escape than to fight the fire. A fuel fire is not to be messed with, even with some basic fire fighting training. So have the right type of extinguisher, and understand it’s a very limited resource.
However, there’s plenty of scenarios where having the extinguisher handy & Accessible quickly is a bloody good idea. My own event was an alternator fire some 20years ago now. The alternator had become somewhat saturated by a small oil leak which went unnoticed at the major service. Being able to isolate the battery quickly helps. But getting out of the car is task 1.

[anthonys2]

Gutted for you wish you all the best

[jimh]

That's terrible news

A prime suspect to me for the ignition source is the main battery to alternator cable (unfused) where it comes out of the chassis leg right underneath the area of the fire.
The grommet perishes and then the cable rubs on the edge of the chassis leg.
I caught mine just in time many years ago now.
I was washing the car when I could hear a faint fizzing sound. Luckily I was curious enough to look for the source of said fizzing. It turned out washing the car must have got the cable / chassis leg wet. The cable had been chaffing on the chassis leg on my car and was cut half though. The fizzing was actually arcing and would have eventually caused a fire I think had I not seen it and repaired the cable / stopped it chaffing.
It's a bad place to have a red hot cable and burning insulation as there's bound to be oil about down there and the fuel distributor etc is right above it.

Everyone with a Urq should check that cable - follow the main cable from the alternator and check where it goes into the chassis rail on that side near the oil cooler.

[urquattr085]

Cheers for the heads up Jim, I'll be checking mine at the weekend.

[BackintheFold]

One of Phil Payne's tips was that if the idle screw was hard to adjust because the screwdriver gets fouled by the transom, it was time to check the RHS engine mount urgently.

[BackintheFold]

Also, has anyone tried one of these battery isolators?
https://www.batterybrain.co.uk/produ...te-anti-theft/