My car's interior caught on fire while in shop.
Dorr's Automotive and Speed Shop, Slidell Louisiana
April 2003. $4000 DAMAGE.
Shop tried to claim that radio shorted out.
Even though radio fuse was fine. Radio was cleaned and
works fine. Car was in shop to install new heater core.
Shop owner refused to have his insurance examine car.
My insurance J.J.Grundy Collector Insurance paid and
handled everything. Grundy Insurance was very cooperative. Shop owner Keith Dorr was a total jerk
in refusing to let his shop insurance investigate
the cause of fire. I now refer to his shop as the
Little Shop OF Horrors. My examination of car after it
was towed home, revealed that a 30 amp horn (live wire) was pinched by the heater core bolt thru the firewall.
The other 3 screws that hold the heayer core box are
attached from inside the pasenger compartment.
LESSONS LEARNED: 1. Get 3 or more customer references.
Name, phone, e-mail info.
2. Purchase a halogen fire exstinguser (sp) not a dry
chemical type. Halogen cost $150 but it leaves no
chemical reaction to water or mositure. Regular type
will cause a reaction that acts like a red/brown rust
surface. I you don't believe me try testing both types on a metal surface. What a big suprise you'll have.
3. Install a battery disconnect switch.
I had both items no.2 and no.3 however car was in shop when they turned it into a cocaine buy went bad.
My car was original owner. original paint, everything. IF SHOP REFUSES REFERENCES---RUN AWAY.

What a bummer! Sorry to hear that. Glad you got your claim settled at least. I guess Grundy figures it's not worth the time and dollars to investigate the circumstances of a $4,000 claim.

Was the car back together when the fire started, or did it happen as they were working on it? In other words, was the battery disconnected while they were working on it? Just curious-did you notify them as to what you found?

Sorry to hear .

I do share your feelings on this one as my precious also caught fire due to a jerk of a mechanic (seems to be an international problem).

I was thinking of a way to set-up a "scoring" model for motor shops, to indicate the customer satisfaction, but without the emotions getting in the way. Maybe the clubs can get something like this going?

Thanx for the tips on the extinguisher as well. I will definately keep it in mind when I replace mine.

Did you redo the interior yourself, or did you get someone else to do it for you?

All of the best!

Elmien
PS: The baby in the link below is the one that caught fire. Have a good look at this before-before photo. One of these days it will be the Steel Cities Grey it was when it saw the first light!

i have had simular problems ,thou not as bad as yours with other vehicles i have taken to shops. since then i have performed all repairs myself as some shops don't care to take the time to do the job correctly.

Gary, Bradenton FL.
If you want a very reiable restoration person
he is Jerry Bramlett from Mobile ALabama.
He did all my repairs after the fire.
Jerry would not take a dime in payment until car
was completely repaired and inspected.
Jerry also would e-mail every Saturday a photo and
written update on my car.
Jerry restores only 57-72 corvettes. NCRS #138.
Jerry Bramlett has ben like a saint from heaven for me.
I can't tell you how great a person he is.
He has a enginering backround and has been restoring
corvettes for many many years.
When I first talked to Jerry he spoke with me by phone
a great length regarding my situation. This was in April
2003 a week after the fire. Jery explained that his
work is usually booked up a year in advance.
He said he had 3-4 week paint car leaving his shop,
such that he could work on my car at that time, if I was
willing to wait 6 months. I brought him the car
2 weks later in May for initial inspection, so that
Jerry could get the car running for periodic cranking
until it's repair in Spetember. He rerouted some wiring
and installed a temporary oil line, so I could start
the car, drive it to keep it mechanically in shape.
Enough about all this.
My only other RED ALERT is a radio repair person
in Tennesse called Wonderbarman. His web site is very
slick, however he is person not to be trusted under
any circustances.
If anyone needs more facts about this idiot please let me
know. He cashed my check, didn't start repairs for
over a month, refused to return untouched radio after
I requested everything back since no work had started.
He said radio is his once it's in his posesion etc...
He added a extra $125 to original repair, stating that
radio a fire exstinguer power all over it. This radio
was not in my car when fire took place. He then replyed
by email that sometime it was in a fire due to power.
I am original owner of radio. It had in my closet since 1978. He recore a speaker and it sounds horrible.
His emails were very vulgar telling me to shut up etc...
DONT DEAL WITH DELCO REPAIR MAN KNOWN AS WONDERBARMAN.
He is a well oiled ripeoff vendor.
Big John

Any electronic or radio repair can be done by Electrosound, on Brookpark rd in Cleveland. They are a factory warranty center. The do the radios, dashboards, cruise control, speedos, etc. Very reliable.

Ken Styer