fiero burn

[fiero101]

i want to know the resons why tje fieros are so prone to catching fire. i own one and would like to stop this problem before it happens. please help me!

[MrPbody]

Myth and superstition abounding!

A FEW (less than 100) '84 Fieros DID indeed "burn down". The "issue" does not extend beyond the first few hundred produced.

All the first year were 2.5 l 4-cyld. There was a flaw in the connecting rods., Rochester shipped them to the Fiero line, where they were rejected and returned. GM ORDERED them to use the rods, so "in they went". There is speculation that Chevy is "behind" this, since the '83 Corvette doesn't exist, and the '84 HAD to sell. It was feared (erroneously, IMO) that Fiero MIGHT "step" on some Corvette sales.

Anyway, since the 2.5 had to have a bit smaller oil pan to "fit" in the P-body chassis, it holds 1 less quart of oil (4 instead of 5). When people would invariably run it "a quart low", it was indeed TOO low, causing rod bearing failure. The rod would break, pouring hot oil all over a hot catalyctic converter, instant fire... The factory "fix" was to install a tin (sheet metal) shield over the converter, so that when (not IF) the rod broke, the oil wouldn't catch fire. Not the "best" approach IMO.

The 6-cylinder cars and '85-newer 4-cyl. cars shouldn't have the issue. One thing is certain. It's NOT an electrical or fuel issue. I drove my '86 SE for over 50K miles before it was "shot out from under me" by a crazy 16 year-old. Bright side? My little P-body destroyed a '96 Ford Exploder. It "sprung" the Ford so badly, the kid had to climb over the seat and kick the rear door open to get out. I just opened the Fiero's door and "stepped" out. My '88 GT is nearing 200K and still doing just fine.

Jim