I love getting into my first fiero. And thoroughly enjoy reading the posts... Thanks for so much info.

I''ve had two neighbors stop by and they seem to be like Job's comforter. Each warns me about how the fieros used to catch on fire in the engine compartment. Was this a problem way back when ? I remember the corvairs used to do this...

Thanks again
grathke

I believe only the 84's had problems with catching fire, but a big recall fixed a good amount of them. All the other years are fine, and just as risky as any other car out there, IMO.

------------------

Just judging by what I read on this board our little cars do tend to flame up more than most.

Keep your engine compartment clean, no oil leaks.

A low temp thermostat and a low temp fan switch seem like a good idea as well. The fan switch turns the fan on at well over 200F. www.rodneydickman.com

I have removed the stamped steel covers on the decklid vents for more airflow to lower engine compartment temps. This can lead to leaves falling in the engine compartment though so I look under there from time to time and I do not park under trees.

I am in the middle of an engine swap, I will buy a fire extinguisher before I start it up again.

The Fiero is an unusual little car but it is a lot more car than most people give it credit for.

Main thing is, keep a close eye on the power steering lines. Ive heard pf more than one fiero thaqt burnt up becuase the power steering lines leaked. Dont ask, I didnt....
I wouldnt worry about it, unless you go 10000 miles without changing the oil, or pass out drunk with your foot on the gas

quote Originally posted by 86GT3.4DOHC: Main thing is, keep a close eye on the power steering lines. Ive heard pf more than one fiero thaqt burnt up becuase the power steering lines leaked. Dont ask, I didnt.... I wouldnt worry about it, unless you go 10000 miles without changing the oil, or pass out drunk with your foot on the gas

I was under the impression that there are only like 6 fieros ever produced that have power steering, and three got taken back for recalls to remove it.

quote Originally posted by 86GT3.4DOHC: Main thing is, keep a close eye on the power steering lines. Ive heard pf more than one fiero thaqt burnt up becuase the power steering lines leaked. Dont ask, I didnt.... I wouldnt worry about it, unless you go 10000 miles without changing the oil, or pass out drunk with your foot on the gas

No wonder my power steering doesnt work ..must be leaking

The most common, and about the only, defect-related fire hazard on Fieros was the defective connecting rod fiasco. It seemed that the foundry that made the rods used in the Iron Duke 2.5 for 1984 had a high defect rate, I've heard numbers as high as one in four. The defect was a crack in the rod. Now on a low power engine like the Duke that crack wasn't as big a deal as one might have thought, but in the Fiero the engineers also went with a 3 quart oil pan, and coupled with owner neglect to check the oil level often the engine would fail by throwing a rod out the block. The resulting hole would allow oil to splash on the catalytic converter located right next to the block and viola, a fire. BTW, the cracked rod affect all cars that used the Duke, not just the Fiero, but on the other cars the converter was located away from the engine and the fire hazard was much lower as a result.

There are fire hazards on Fieros today primarily due to age, and these hazards apply to all old cars not just Fieros. Things like deteriorating rubber fuel lines, leaves and combustible debris in the air ducting under the dash, fuel leaks, etc. One of the first things I would check would be the HVAC blower resister pack, https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/044628.html as this has been cited several times recently as the source for Fiero fire losses. Next would be a visual inspection of all the rubber hoses and vacuum lines, and a look-see under the car for signs of fuel leakage from the hoses including the rubber hose that connect the steel fuel fill line to the tank.

JazzMan

What Jazz said....

Any older car is going to be dangerous if you don't go thru it carefully, fix stuff like fluid leaks and clean out trash. This applies to any used car even if it's just a couple years old.

------------------
The only thing George Orwell got wrong was the year.

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top of every forum page...)

Like mentioned above, keep everything clean and leak free, and make sure your wiring is in good shape and you'll be fine.

BTW, welcome to the forum! We're practically neighbors. I'm 45 min. north of St. Louis. What part of town are you in?

------------------
1986 SE 350 V8

Click on this link.
Its a copy of the fire plate and booklet that was sent out to new Fiero owners and why people are telling you they catch on fire.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/038264.html

Hope this helps . John