Click above for more pics of the Scion xB post-fire damage
An auto dealer service center is a lot like a doctor's office for your car. When something is wrong or your ride needs a check-up, a technician can set things right. Of course sometimes doctors make mistakes like taking off your left foot when they're supposed to amputate the right one, and things don't always go as planned in the hands of a trained tech. One Scion xB owner took his modified baby to the dealer for a Technical Service Bulletin, and it ended up engulfed in flames. The fire completely destroyed the little xB, but the good news is that the dealer has taken full responsibility for the problem and is giving the owner a new ride for his troubles.
We had auto shop in high school, but we can't seem to remember any reason a car should blow up when being worked on. We don't know what Scion xB TSB was being done, but if trying to fix it could blow up your car, that's probably not good. Check out the gruesome pics in the gallery below
[Source: Scion Life via Motive Mag]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
NYChic @ Apr 8th 2008 8:47AM
Can't be long before one of you idiots comes up with 'That'll buff right out'.
almost Dr. G.. @ Apr 8th 2008 9:24AM
That'll buff right out!!
you gave us idiots too much credit by putting the apostrophe in that'll.. sorry im more of a tool than an idiot..
:)
MJK @ Apr 8th 2008 8:50AM
That should buff right out...he'll be fine.
Corey W. @ Apr 8th 2008 8:59AM
I wonder what was modified...
Randy @ Apr 8th 2008 3:22PM
Before or after the explosion?
Tom Gabriele @ Apr 8th 2008 9:04AM
i heard that he removed the fcu to save on weight
[the fire control unit]
TBlueMax @ Apr 8th 2008 9:07AM
It looks like the fire was primarily contained in the passenger compartment based on the amount of soot and fire suppressant covering the inside - or - once it started burning, everyone grabbed marshmallows and started roasting them. Makes me even more curious why the xB's entire front clip and front fenders are removed. Scavenging for parts already?
George @ Apr 8th 2008 9:15AM
Haha, these pictures should be posted everywhere to serve as a warning for tuners everywhere. Adding something mechanical like CID on is one thing, but people love to muck with the electrical components on these things. I would bet you it was an electrical fire.
I test drove one of these for my company (WheelsTV.net) and I felt a little silly driving around in it. Especially when the only people that came up to the car in the day that I had it was an elderly couple asking about it.
NOreasonY @ Apr 8th 2008 9:16AM
Its an ugly toyota...it deserves to burn! jk....sorta :)
Frylock350 @ Apr 8th 2008 9:21AM
The sheeple have exacted their revenge...
Chris @ Apr 8th 2008 9:35AM
That's hot.
FThorn @ Apr 8th 2008 9:36AM
Daihatsu (Matera) build quality is showing, Toyota.
dskinner @ Apr 8th 2008 11:44AM
Although the 2nd gen xB is built in a Daihatsu (Toyota-owned) factory in Japan, it is no longer built off of the bB/Materia platform. Daihatsu doesn't even build a version of the current xB, although Toyota sells it as the Corolla Rumion in JP. Either way, saying that the build quality is any different is simply ignorant, as nearly all of the insides of the xB come from the Camry. It's like saying the G5 is not built as well as a Cobalt, or a Sable is not built as well as a Taurus. If you were joking about it all, then I hope I simply informed you, and maybe you could say...
Looks like the Daihatsu built Toyota Corolla Rumion is showing it's quality.
I am impressed that Autoblog readers aren't blasting Toyota too bad, and noticing that it was probably due to the owner's poorly done modification.
thebobman @ Apr 8th 2008 9:45AM
I looks like it started inside the dash and burned for quite some time. My Theory that the guy brought it in to have one or both of the airbags removed to allow for the installation of a TV in the dash or steering wheel. Removing airbags is something that any tuner worth his salt would leave to a dealer for a number of reasons (documentation for resale, the fact they can explode, etc.). The dealer probably removed the airbag(s) but caused a short somewhere in the dash; not bad enough to cause a fire immediately, but enough that after a while (ie. after everybody'd gone home) the fire started.
Menice @ Apr 8th 2008 9:55AM
artical states 3x it was in for TSB
Neon Jebus @ Apr 8th 2008 9:47AM
Are those Sour Patch Kids in the storage area in front of the passenger seat? Man I love Sour Patch Kids!
Seminole @ Apr 8th 2008 12:34PM
They were. Now they are Sour Patch Goo.
dejal @ Apr 8th 2008 9:47AM
God help the owner if it was being serviced at that BMW dealer who tried screwing the E-Bay winner.
Crap happens, good for the dealer to make good.
h8rain @ Apr 8th 2008 11:32AM
Ahh! you beat me to that!
The BMW place would charge the owner for any damages to their shop and/or employee :)
tankd0g @ Apr 8th 2008 10:07AM
If it was in the dash I would put money on it being the result of some ICE installation, some of those places really are bad. 3m quick connectors instead of solder joints, nothing shrink wraped, fuse links not installed etc.