1999 Ford Expedition Fire Sale

randsgmc5302 · December 06, 2009, 11:35:15 AM

We were awakened at midnight last night by police officers yelling for us to get out of our house because our Expedition was in flames and was parked between the house and the bus and they were afraid it would blow up. We had parked it there at about 6:30pm. We have posted pictures on our photo bucket website if you want to take a look. The expedition did not survive, the house was fine and the bus had some damage like the windshield cracked, the destination sign melted and some of the lenses on the front of the bus melted. Overall I guess we were pretty lucky as we were all fine and we didn't lose our home or our home away from home(da bus).
Randy and Michelle Humburg
http://s591.photobucket.com/albums/ss354/firstrate/99%20Expedition%20Fire%20Sale/

John316 · December 06, 2009, 11:41:29 AM

Wow, you all are very blessed. That is incredible it didn't damage the house, or the bus, that much. We often don't realize how blessed we are, until we are in a situation like you were in. Amazing how you were protected...

There was another gent, on the board, that had his house burn. His bus was pretty burned out, and his story didn't end as nice as yours.

Did they ever find out what happened to the expedition, and why it burned?

God bless,

John

kyle4501 · December 06, 2009, 11:42:40 AM

Bummer, Dude!

At least it wasn't worse . . .

Good luck with the repairs.

randsgmc5302 · December 06, 2009, 11:45:13 AM

Exactly it definitely could have been way worse.....Thanks!

randsgmc5302 · December 06, 2009, 11:48:48 AM

They put it as undetermined but it appears it started in the engine compartment. And yes the main thing is we are all fine and it could have been much worse.

luvrbus · December 06, 2009, 11:49:34 AM

Looks like somebody didn't pay attention to the recall about the cruise control wiring starting a fire.
My daughter in Texas lost one that way hers caught fire about 1am in the garage cost Ford a new car and a house.
She was very lucky her and grand kids got out safe

good luck

randsgmc5302 · December 06, 2009, 11:57:26 AM

We didn't get a recall on it at all.

luvrbus · December 06, 2009, 12:16:36 PM

She told me you should have one dated Sept 07 2005 500,000 were recalled hers caught fire in 2001 and there was a bunch of recalls on the 1999 year model

good luck

Busted Knuckle · December 06, 2009, 12:41:29 PM

Wow Randy that is terrible!
Great news is that nobody was hurt!

I too was thinking that the cruise control was probably the cause!

I keep getting recall notices on my '95 F350 Dually from Ford for the same reason!

I been meaning to get it in and get it fixed. But with the problems I been having with the buses maybe I need to park them all real close together!

BK

randsgmc5302 · December 06, 2009, 12:49:30 PM

Well here's the thing for us, we own First Rate Auto & Bus Upholstery and Car Sales and we have a dealers license so when we buy cars from various places by WI department of tranportation statue we are required to hold the titles until we sell the vehicle it is never put into our name only the next retail buyers name thus the reason for the recall never coming to us. I am really happy that it happened to us (We were using it as our driver) and not one of our customers but be assured had we known about the recall we would have followed up on it.

Dreamscape · December 06, 2009, 01:19:11 PM

I had a recall on our 94 Lincoln for the same reason, cruise control. Dealer fixed it at no charge. So that tells ya how far back it went.

Sorry for the problem, gald no one was hurt. The other stuff is replaceable.

Paul

bobofthenorth · December 06, 2009, 01:36:01 PM

That was a huge recall - Marilyn's '97 Grand Marquis was caught in it as well. She took it in as soon as she got the letter, the dealer promptly unplugged the cruise, told her that he had removed it completely & told her it would be at least 3 months before they could get parts. We left it and went away for the winter. I flew home briefly that winter and was supposed to pick the car up - repaired - to use. I went 3/4 ballistic when I discovered that they still hadn't done anything. The service droid explained that they had just disconnected the cruise and I explained to him that he was going to show me how to hook it back up. He did & I did & it didn't catch on fire. I can't remember how the story ended - she must have got the recall completed at some point.

gumpy · December 06, 2009, 02:08:02 PM

yep, cruise control. The been sending me letters for a few years on my 95 F150. The cruise hasn't worked for about 10. I just keep forgetting to make an appointment.
Maybe it'll burn and they'll buy me a new one.

jok · December 06, 2009, 02:23:45 PM

I got a recall about a week ago on my 1999 F-350 for the cruise control. It was my first letter from Ford on the recall and was dated November 2009. Looks like they have not got to your Expedition recall yet. Look for it in the mail tomorrow.

Glad to hear it was not worse. I will park my truck in the field until I get it into the dealer.

John

Busted Knuckle · December 06, 2009, 03:53:45 PM

Quote from: jok on December 06, 2009, 02:23:45 PM
I got a recall about a week ago on my 1999 F-350 for the cruise control. It was my first letter from Ford on the recall and was dated November 2009. Looks like they have not got to your Expedition recall yet. Look for it in the mail tomorrow.

Glad to hear it was not worse. I will park my truck in the field until I get it into the dealer.

John

John I have room beside the broke buses if you wanna park it somewhere safe!

BK