loud bang/explosion coming from car?

[skate1968]

I was driving on Saturday when i heard a very loud bang. I saw a flash somewhat from the corner of my eye. It was apparently coming from the undercarriage of an SUV.

The bang was indeed loud enough to have shaken me.

What do you think caused this?

The SUV did pull over.

thanks

 

[Chris142]

Back fire.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Back fire.

In Philadelphia it was more than likely gunfire.

 

[rk1407]

He was probably pulling over to reload....

 

[skate1968]

Thanks Chris.

I guess that i'm just not used to hearing a backfire. Or maybe this one was a louder one for some reason. It was not an old carbureated auto.

Strange.

 

[mechanicx]

Maybe a pipe bomb that turned out to be a dud.

 

[skate1968]

Originally Posted By: Rock_Hudstone
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Back fire.

In Philadelphia it was more than likely gunfire.

Actually if i was 5 miles south i'd say that you were right. But this was outside the city. Very nice uppity area.

 

[Chris142]

Not too commom with todays fuel injected cars. I'd guess 1 sudden coil failure would load the muffler up with fuel.And with 3 or more other coils still working could ignite it.....Maybe.

 

[skate1968]

Even further off topic

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Maybe a pipe bomb that turned out to be a dud.


Reminds me of a story.

I actually knew a fellow who left Northern Ireland in the 80s to come to philly. And while living in Philly an SUV went up in flames right in front of his house. In other words a "car bomb" went off in front of his house.

How is that for ironic?

Fortunately, no one was injured.

 

[skate1968]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Not too commom with todays fuel injected cars.


Yes, that's also what my google search told me.

thanks again

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

One summer, years ago I worked for a tree service company, they had us driving these Chevy Topkick style commercial trucks with a manual trans.

For laughs every now and then, my co-worker would turn the key off while driving along, then back on and Kaa-Poww!! people on the sidewalks would jump out their skin.

 

[Mixologist]

Threw a rod
Brakes blew (it's a loud bang)
etc...

 

[skate1968]

Hi Mix,

Originally Posted By: Mixologist
Threw a rod


Thats more along the lines of what i would've guessed.

regards

skate

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: skate1968
Hi Mix,

Originally Posted By: Mixologist
Threw a rod


Thats more along the lines of what i would've guessed.

regards

skate


A thrown rod sounds more like a fork in the garbage disposal except a lot louder.

 

[BigBuck]

Airbag

 

[Gene K]

Tire was run low of pressure until the excessive flexing caused the casing to fail. The sound and flash was from the tire blowing. Ive never been sure exactly were the flash of light comes from when a tire fails in that way.

 

[tommygunn]

The loud bang wasn't followed by any screaming was it?

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: Gene K
Tire was run low of pressure until the excessive flexing caused the casing to fail. The sound and flash was from the tire blowing. Ive never been sure exactly were the flash of light comes from when a tire fails in that way.


Just a guess, but I suspect that in that sort of event a bunch of very small pieces of hot rubber are ejected into the air and make a little fireball.

 

[95busa]

EFP strike?

 

[skate1968]

Hi Tommy,

Originally Posted By: tommygunn
The loud bang wasn't followed by any screaming was it?


No.

And that's about the only question that i can answer with confidence.

[salut smiliey]