2005 GT: My headliner got scorched and almost caught on fire

socalsubaru · May 2010

Hey everyone, long time lurker but first time poster here.

Last night, my car shut off in the middle of starting it while I was in my driveway. It's a 2005 GT bought in November 2004 with ~59,300 miles.

Thinking nothing of it, I went back inside then this morning, when I went back in the car, I saw that the interior light melted into the roof liner, the autodimming mirror (that did come with the car when I got it) was partially melted at the end and the headliner was scorched. It started up today but wouldn't start last night.

I'm scared to drive the car and it's in front of my house. What should I do? I'm about to contact SOA and then my insurance.

Here are some pics of what happened:

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9903/img1232do.jpg

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/3662/img1228n.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7299/img1236gx.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5347/img1229g.jpg

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/5023/img1230l.jpg

Thanks for your help.

fibber2 · May 2010

Wow, you are quite lucky that you didn't lose the whole car.

I don't own an '05, but on my '02, the mirror gets it's power from a connector tucked into the headliner by the front overhead lights. I'd assume that it probably is all fed from the same fuse, but maybe someone else can look that up. Also up there would be power to the sunroof. Step one would be to pull those fuses to make sure this meltdown doesn't continue. Better yet, disconnect the battery!

Not knowing why, I wouldn't drive it until someone pulls down the headliner to see what happened. Also, why did this shut down the engine, yet allow current flow to wiring up here? Very odd.

jijones1223 · April 2012

Hey,
I am not sure if you will even get this, I noticed you posted a few years ago but I was wondering what else happened with your car, if you figured out why it happen or anything?

The other day I had something like this happen to my car. I have a 2000 Pontiac Grand AM. It has some issues, main one being I do not have AC. And other little things like the doors randomly locking and stuff like that.

Sunday morning I drove to my moms house, I noticed nothing when I got my daughter in the car or when I get her and all of my stuff out of the car. She notices everything and she didn't see it either. About 6 hours later We were leaving to get lunch and when we got in the car we noticed the roof was burnt and the plastic is melted I attached a picture. I have no idea how this happened. I don't even know where to begin with this but I am totally freaked out. I have not driven my car since this happened. I don't feel safe driving my daughter around in this car if something like this is happening. Any advice or suggestions for me??

I appreciate it!

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/581418_3693507146317_1534453008_5- 8673961_539320725_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/581418_3693507146317_1534453008_5- 8673961_539320725_n.jpg

ateixeira · April 2012

Bizarre - could it be an electrical short circuit? Maybe for the rear defog?

xwesx · April 2012

Definitely a short circuit; looks like a wire was rubbing somewhere and finally ate through the wire's insulation. On top of that, though, the fuse (all the wires should be fuse-protected) must have failed to separate properly when the short took place. Too much current through the wire straight to ground, and it is going to get hot. Get hot enough, and it is going to start melting/burning things. For that wire to do what it did, it must have seriously overheated and been doing it for a while.

I don't blame you for not feeling safe using the car like this; I'm amazed that it didn't torch itself with a burn like that!

ateixeira · April 2012

I bet the headliner had some sort of fire retardant in it.

2005 GT: My headliner got scorched and almost caught on fire

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