CJ7 throttle FIRE!!!

[frisco2220]

Crazy short story...
so, I put the battery charger on the Jeep at lunch (must of left key on). returned 10-15mins later. attempt to start, fires, dies. cold engine. attempt to start, cranks. Smell funny in the air. go to front of engine to investigate battery charger for malfunction. charger fine, plastic clip holding throttle to intake manifold on FIRE!.

I realize this story is in short hand third person. What I really need is any idea how this can happen. the throttle cable is aftermarket braided stainless. I installed 2mo ago, basically new. The throttle bracket is isolated from intake with rubber grommets.

Is there a way for current to circulate through the firewall to the stainless cable jacket, causing it to heat up?

please any thoughts.
thanks

 

[JR74CJ5]

Left a key on in old boat before and the ignition coil got so hot it transferred heat to everything near it, started fire and melted itself down by the time we got out of the bar to the docks and put it out.

Just an idea that possibly the heat transferred to the closest thing possible to start melting / catching fire. Could have had flammable grease of some sort on it to maybe some spray lube for better usage at one point?

Just thoughts

Glad your jeep didn't burn down to the ground Good Luck buddy.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Also, depending on the year... My 74 has full voltage running all throughout the dash. So there is a possibility that the short etc started from under the dash and spread, but I assume other things would have started to burn before the bracket for the throttle cable, unless something is shorting out directly to your throttle cable.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Details on your jeep with mods would be good.
For a long time the NTSB was looking into Jeep engine fires.
The vast majority of them were caused from fuel leaking at the fuel filter that was positioned over the exhaust manifold.
Please post pictures of the fire/burn area.
LG

 

[Thorwon]

It sounds like you may need to put a good ground cable from the frame to the engine.