Dealer set my ute on fire!

[JDRSV]

Have not been on here much, but thought i would ask a bit of advise.

Had a rattle in the interior and another bit of cabin noise the dealer was going to fix under warrenty.

The parts finally arrived and in that time the Ute started to run rough at cold start, especially if it had sat for a couple days
Seemed like it was getting air in the fuel system and after 10secs would run fine
So I had the dealer look at this as well
They took a fuel sample and ended up setting the engine bay alight.
The mech' has some burns on his hands but will be ok, so that is good.

The dealer has send me pics (I'm away at work) and it does look mostly cosmetic.

Now my concern is that the work will not be done to a standard before the accident, scorched wires, in hard to see placed, paint is burn under bonnet while top looks fine but may look shit in 12 months.

I have never had to deal with a dealer or repairs before, always drove shitboxes before
Am'I better off having it repaired through my insurance, Shannons?
I can choose my own repairer, but as stated have not had a car at a mechanics in 15yrs.

Any advise appreciated

BTW it is a '14 SSV with 10500Km
a bit gutted

Thanks

[duke5700]

I would think the workshop would have insurance for this kind of thing, make them do the claim and repairs.

Like any repair, you would inspect if afterwards. If I wasn't comfortable with what I was inspecting a 3rd party inspection would be a good idea. Maybe one of the forum sponsors in Brisbane could do it for a nominal fee.

[HSV,_I_GOT_ONE]

I'd personally go through insurance for sure. Let them chase payment from the dealer. Dealer will have its own insurance as well.

[R8HSVHRT]

Mate if I were you I would go through Shannons and have the car repaired by professionals and by your choice of repairers no matter on what the costs
these dealers I would say would have a very high excess and might end up conducting repairs themselves and by who ever they choose to save costs etc ,which would leave you unsatisfied with repairs and you chasing your tail and getting the run around from them

[Micks]

Begs the question how did the fire start? Have splashed lotsa fuel near an engine before & never managed to burn the Vehicle!!

[XUV]

Begs the question how did the fire start? Have splashed lotsa fuel near an engine before & never managed to burn the Vehicle!!

Must've had cigi in mouth, lol , no

but ,yeah bit strange on modern efi throttle body cars, on old school cars where you miss a valley fuel and a stray lead, yeah they catch real well ..

[CLUBRED]

Static spark?

[Micks]

Static spark?

Could understand that theory in dry/windy weather, but middle of summer with high humidity (dew point)

[Devil CV8]

Definitely use your own insurance and your own repairer. The repairer I use actually goes out of his way to ensure the car is returned better than before the incident. For the wife's car, he used new parts and repaired/repainted the whole side rather than 3/4 which is what the insurer agreed to. Took some extra time, but the end result is well worth it.

[dnos]

If the exhaust manifold was hot and they removed the fuel line using the quick connect while it was still under pressure (without releasing the pressure on the fuel rail), I can definitely see how it would go up in flames.

[white lie]

If the exhaust manifold was hot and they removed the fuel line using the quick connect while it was still under pressure (without releasing the pressure on the fuel rail), I can definitely see how it would go up in flames.

I popped the plastic line that goes between the hard line and fuel rail a couple of times, poured fuel all over my hot extractors (twice) but didn't go up.
May have been lucky but with coated headers I don't think there is enough heat there to make it ignite (unless you were giving it a hard time before hand)

[JDRSV]

If the exhaust manifold was hot and they removed the fuel line using the quick connect while it was still under pressure (without releasing the pressure on the fuel rail), I can definitely see how it would go up in flames.

Yep this is my guess

[JDRSV]

Mate if I were you I would go through Shannons and have the car repaired by professionals and by your choice of repairers no matter on what the costs
these dealers I would say would have a very high excess and might end up conducting repairs themselves and by who ever they choose to save costs etc ,which would leave you unsatisfied with repairs and you chasing your tail and getting the run around from them

This is what I have been thinking, but I have only ever had old shitboxes and did the work myself, I have know idea who would be repairer, a forum sponsor was suggested and that would be a good start.
The dealer has said the damage is cosmetic, and looking at the pics I have no reason to doubt them.
Ongoing issues is a concern and I think it would be better in that instance to have my insurance do the work, rather then dealing with a 3rd party for every little problem I'm not happy with.
I have asked them not to do any repairs until I get home next week, I don't think this is an unreasonable request, should hear back tomorrow.
if anyone can recommend a repairer in Brisbane that would be great

Thanks fellas

[dnos]

I popped the plastic line that goes between the hard line and fuel rail a couple of times, poured fuel all over my hot extractors (twice) but didn't go up.
May have been lucky but with coated headers I don't think there is enough heat there to make it ignite (unless you were giving it a hard time before hand)

Done the same and my exhaust was pretty warm, totally shat myself... luckily it didn't go up. Maybe the dealer had the car running when he/she did it so max fuel pumped out?

[white lie]

Done the same and my exhaust was pretty warm, totally shat myself... luckily it didn't go up. Maybe the dealer had the car running when he/she did it so max fuel pumped out?

I was thinking they pushed the shrader valve on the rail to try and get the sample and must have just been an unfortunate spark from somewhere. But if that caught alight, there wouldn't be much fuel to cause too much of a mess before burning out. It would be more of a flash and that's that.