Rats have been known to enter the engine bay when its cold to keep warm. They they start to chew on the wiring and cause short circuits. Next thing you know when driving you have a fire.
It’s easy to say insurance companies will do anything to reject a claim but I would hate to think how many 4wds burn to the ground due to dodgy 12 volt install and then go for a claim. To do a proper big 12 v install takes a lot of thought and planning, or any install for that matter. Happy for you that it worked out I would hate to go through something like this.
Yeah the clause kind of caught me off guard. I think if you contest it they fold pretty easy, so its mostly there to catch those who don't want to have any conflict
years ago I was driving from Adelaide to Wagga when it got smokey I pulled over in the middle of nowhere lifted the bonnet and saw flames, I rushed to get the fire extinguisher and put the fire out, and with no phone reception managed to flag someone down. the insurance company played hard to talk to with my claim the same thing happened to me but they said b if I had left it they would have paid out but because I stopped the fire they would not.
Yeah I got the same explaination about letting it burn down. Sure the money is one thing, but sitting back and purposefully doing nothing while letting my pride and joy go up in flames is not something I could have done.
Very informative video 👍. A couple of years ago my wife's colorado was written off ( rac) and at the time it had my rims and tyres on. The assessor was happy for me to go and swap them back. I was very surprised.
The same thing happened to me, My car was a Nissan patrol. I put the insurance claim into the hands of lawyers. It went to court and i won the claim. 2 weeks later I got the value of the car. That doesn't include all the mods it had on it. I now have a 2018 JK jeep wrangler unlimited.
Well done on your persistence Todd, smart negotiation and disclosures about the non-disclosure of insurance practices that use back door loop holes and exit clauses to nullify claims - I don’t have to tell you to enjoy your ‘new’ L200 - I wanted to keep my ‘98 Subaru WRX but sold it to buy a house and find a well-loved Hilux - thank goodness you opted to stay with a Toyota and not buy a new Ford Ranger with their apparent issues as folk are now discovering with dismay.
@@offroadcrusader your welcome Todd - I forgot to ask was the dual battery wiring installed in the fuse box area where the earth short occurred as I’m surprised the fuse to protect the main sub bus circuit may not have blown?
I don't use insurance companies. I get an assessment on a comprehensive policy, and then deposit that amount into an interest earning account. I have never needed to access this money, as I drive carefully and don't park in stupid places. If something does go wrong, I would get a small loan against the value of my "insurance account", and then pay it back, keeping my account intact. This saves me thousands a year in wasted policy payments, earns a little interest and is there in case I need it. Helps out the credit rating too.
Can't tell you how much insurance has been taken away from Vic Rac due similar experience with them. Will say that there are companies with brilliant service within the insurance industry. Well done on sharing your story and getting a better than could have been outcome
Thanks Todd, I watched the video twice and you explained it all really well. I had no idea quite how close you came to having the fuel filter ignite! Lucky you weren't trying to get your toddler out of his carseat during the fire! I was interested that the engine was initially still running. If you had turned the engine off straight away, does that mean your water pump would not have worked? Do you have a fire extinguisher as well? Do you have any mates or contacts who are auto-electricians? They might have some expert advice for powering up your extra gadgets. I am thrilled you found a replacement; 'Phoenix' is perfect for the new name :)
Hey Todd, I know that sinking feeling mate. Going around a blind corner heading down a hill when some fool, over .05, stoned (medically apparently😂), unregistered and driving like a fool came across the double lines and we hit head on at around 170-180kph! Between me seeing his rooftop coming up around the bend and watching the centre of his grill hit my driver's side chassis rail took just enough time - like 0.8 seconds, for me to think to myself...'so, this is how it ends.' I was in my pride & joy 2015 Hilux (MY'14) nearly ready to take on the cape. This was late during covid and the increased value era, shall we say, I searched and searched for a Hilux of the same model and k's...I purchased it new for $44k. Same car then had gone to $45-48k but they would only give me $24k. After 4mths with no work car and arguing my point I got $29k and the bought an emaculate '08 Prado Grande for $29k xxey but I love it and been watching your vids since. I just want to stress your point to all others...KNOW YOUR POLICY! If he was insured I would have got a replacement but in his state I was getting whatever I could argue for which still wasn't enough. He went away in the westpack chopper and is now doing time. I walked away in amazment at how good airbags are.
Far out that sounds horrific, glad you are ok mate! I know some will say that at the end of the day its just a car, but you and I both know that our 4WDs mean more to us than that. Replacing them is hard enough, but when the dollars aren't there and COVID is messing with car prices, its very difficult. Glad you are enjoying the channel though, cheers for watching!
I’m interested to know if the items they allowed you to take off the car where listed on the insurance policy as additional accessories? And did you have to pay for them?
Hey mate, no they only work with a single value for the vehicle, not Vehicle + Accessories. I had a long conversation with the assessor to figure out exactly what I could and couldn't take, and some things I did have to push for. Since a lot of second hand accessories don't really have any garuanteed value for the insurance company, they usually don't want them unless it can be sold for scrap. So the RTT, drawers, fridge, etc were all just given to me. The rear bar had some scrap value, but I asked nicely and said it was the wheel carrier and protection I was after, and the assessor let me have it free of charge. I'm sure if I offered money to buy back other items like bullbar or wheels and tyres that could have been arranged, but honestly I was happy to just buy these things new if needed.
Interesting. An earthing problem caused a fire! I thought rated wiring looms with fuses, protect wires from overloading and getting hot? It would be good to understand the problem. Is it an OEM defect or aftermarket product install issue?
Yeah it's not 100% certain but with the amount of damage there just wasn't any way to find a more specific cause. Whatever it was must have carried a heap of current because the fire started and flared so quickly.
A contract for agreed value is just that. If you are aware that the value of your car has increases substantially during your period of insurance, which has happened with a lot of vehicles these last couple of years, you, as the insured party, should negotiate a new agreed value at any time during the year, and pay any premium adjustment. It's not rocket science. It's pretty easy to moan and groan that the next renewal has lifted the agreed value by 30%, rather than praise the company for doing that. Keep on top of your asset protection, folks.
Completely agree mate, I signed the contract and agreed to the value. As I did say, it was the maximum agreed value I could get even though I thought it was worth more, but I still agreed to it. I just thought it was a bit cheeky to tease me about the vehicle being worth so much more than what I could get paid out for it. I know that going forward I will need to only settle on insurance that will cover the actual replacement value of the vehicle plus accessories in the event I lose the car completely.
@@offroadcrusader there is nothing that come close the best tourer I’ve had I might be a little biased I’ve come from a Prado 2 the 200 best thing I done. they just do most things well and in comfort .I’m looking forward to seeing you change it to your needs.
Hi just started to follow you. Great Tips to look on insurance cover . How do you know this crusier is not going to catch fire from the same earth problem again. 🤔
Thanks Bruce! Earth problem in the last car seemed to be caused by rubbed off insulation behind the fuel filter. From now on all wiring in the engine bay will get black convoluted tubing over it to prevent this
I just checked 4 big and popular insurance companies the clause they got you on doesn't apply in the context your insurer used it in most. They simply say they won't repair structural, mechanical, electrical or electronic failure or breakdown in the same way they won't repair tyre damage. One of them which has a lot of enthusiasts covered however adds the words "You are not covered under any section of this policy for damage, loss, cost or legal liability that is caused by or arises from or involves: • any structural, mechanical, electrical or electronic failure or breakdown". I am involved in a Car Club with several hundred members across Australia 90% of whom I am sure are insured through this popular insurer and ALL or whom are now aware of this stupid policy. This is going to cost Shannon's dearly as both Enthusiast Car Insurance and RACV Enthusiast Insurance don't use this exclusion clause in this way and will in fact fully cover your losses to the value of the sum insured. RACV goes so far as to expressly say so in their coverage statement that they will cover you in case of loss due to vehicle fire.
Glad u r back on the road. After watching this I checked my insurance and unlike yours it covers fire without any reference to what caused the fire and does not separate electrical etc. Your insurance company sucks. One of my past 4x4 's that my daughter wrote off ( not her fault ). We were able to take anything off it we wanted.
Ah thats great, who are you insured with? Keeping your old accessories is an awesome way to reclaim some value back instantly, especially if its DIY mods with personal value.
@@offroadcrusaderCurrently with GIO. but on previous 4X4 was with Aamie. Usually rotate between the 2. Would never would go back to Budget as a repair they did on my wife's car some years ago was rubbish. I have painted a few boats ( as a hobby ) and the job they did, was very poor quality
To be honest, RAC have been great for the last 14 years. It was just one assessor and one clause in the PDS that held it all up. Their customer service was impecible, and I don't want to soil their good work with the actions of one individual.
Am still weighing up different options. RAC have been great overall, and I don't want to let one person from them soil the rest of them. Low premiums and RAC discounts all add up. It would take a pretty good offer from another insurance company to compete with that, but have been recommended Club4X4 and Shannons
I was with Shannon’s and moved to club 4x4 mainly for the fact that they are the only ones that will cover you if you are off road. I put this scenario to RACV, Shannon’s and AAMI.” What if I was driving though a river and the engine took water and completely wrecked the engine. The big 3 all said I won’t be covered. They even won’t cover you if you drive through water on a bitumen culvert as they class it as an act of recklessness. Club 4x4 said I would be up for an extra $2k excess but I would rather pay an extra $2k than probably at least $10k for a new motor. Or being an older vehicle they might have written it off. From what I have read from other people Club 4x4 are not perfect but at least you are covered off road.
@@offroadcrusader Every time I renew the policy I call them up and increase the value to the maximum permissible. In one case it didn't cost me anything because it was still within the policy allowance. Always read PDS.
Great video contexts!!! although you should follow a guideline of subject as thinking as you speak makes the video hard to follow. Lots of hum, mmm, and repeating words. Speak to a cold camera instead of an audience isn’t easy. Keep them coming Your channel is pretty good Cheers
I'd love to say I know exactly what happened, but it still isn't clear. All I could advise is to be vigilant to new smells in the car. Have fire extinguishers ready to go, and be ready to remove any valuables from the car if needed.
@@offroadcrusader I has a similar fire under the bonnet years ago. It was caused by a battery terminal touching the bonnet when the bonnet was closed. So there was no fusing. The earth wire from the battery to the body was the one that burnt and caused the fire. So IMO the earth lead burning would be secondary to a short elsewhere.
Glad your claim was eventually accepted and you are through the worst of the experience. The new rig looks very nice. Can you reveal how much you paid?
Thanks mate, really appreciate it! I didn't get much change out of my payout thats for sure, and by the time I got rego, stamp duty, transfer fees and new insurance I was definitely out of pocket by a fair wack!
Yeah that was my arguement. The assessor had only seen photos of the vehicle from an office somewhere, not actually done any testing or forensic work to determine a cause or repair.
As the towie that came to pick you up glad to see your back on the road hope to see you out on the tracks not on the truck cheers
Cheers Ben, was hoping to run into you again mate! Thanks again for towing us back in the middle of the night
Bottom line … insurance is not insurance
It’s the best legal scam
Lucky mate. Insurance companies will use anything to avoid paying
Rats have been known to enter the engine bay when its cold to keep warm. They they start to chew on the wiring and cause short circuits. Next thing you know when driving you have a fire.
Very true mate, I was parked in a paddock for a good 5-6 hours previously, so that has been a possibility for the cause!
What a score! Good to see your happy with it mate 😊
It’s easy to say insurance companies will do anything to reject a claim but I would hate to think how many 4wds burn to the ground due to dodgy 12 volt install and then go for a claim. To do a proper big 12 v install takes a lot of thought and planning, or any install for that matter. Happy for you that it worked out I would hate to go through something like this.
Good your OK, bloody insurance companies don't want to part with their money and trying to get out of it
Yeah the clause kind of caught me off guard. I think if you contest it they fold pretty easy, so its mostly there to catch those who don't want to have any conflict
Good to see you had a win and all turned out well.
years ago I was driving from Adelaide to Wagga when it got smokey I pulled over in the middle of nowhere lifted the bonnet and saw flames, I rushed to get the fire extinguisher and put the fire out, and with no phone reception managed to flag someone down. the insurance company played hard to talk to with my claim the same thing happened to me but they said b if I had left it they would have paid out but because I stopped the fire they would not.
Yeah I got the same explaination about letting it burn down. Sure the money is one thing, but sitting back and purposefully doing nothing while letting my pride and joy go up in flames is not something I could have done.
Thanks for the tip Todd and great news how things turn out great at the end. I’m on the hunt for a new insurance and hard to choose which is which.
Very informative video 👍. A couple of years ago my wife's colorado was written off ( rac) and at the time it had my rims and tyres on. The assessor was happy for me to go and swap them back. I was very surprised.
That is awesome!
Bloody loss mate I feel for ya I’m glad In the end it got all sorted bigger and better things moving forward, keen for another camp.
Definitely my friend. Looking forward to it too, it's been too long between drinks.
The same thing happened to me, My car was a Nissan patrol.
I put the insurance claim into the hands of lawyers.
It went to court and i won the claim.
2 weeks later I got the value of the car.
That doesn't include all the mods it had on it.
I now have a 2018 JK jeep wrangler unlimited.
Good video, on a separate note thanks for the recent Brunswick trip. Was an awesome day out. - The Mighty PS
No worries mate, hopefully we can get back out again with the Sandtrooper and watch him get bogged for once.
Fn insurance companies. Glad you got a payout but sad you lost your ride. Also good you got some accessories back. Thanks for sharing 👍
Well done on your persistence Todd, smart negotiation and disclosures about the non-disclosure of insurance practices that use back door loop holes and exit clauses to nullify claims - I don’t have to tell you to enjoy your ‘new’ L200 - I wanted to keep my ‘98 Subaru WRX but sold it to buy a house and find a well-loved Hilux - thank goodness you opted to stay with a Toyota and not buy a new Ford Ranger with their apparent issues as folk are now discovering with dismay.
Cheers mate, really appreciate it. Yeah I'm very happy with the new LC200 for sure!
@@offroadcrusader your welcome Todd - I forgot to ask was the dual battery wiring installed in the fuse box area where the earth short occurred as I’m surprised the fuse to protect the main sub bus circuit may not have blown?
Need to get a fire extinguisher for electrical fires.
I don't use insurance companies. I get an assessment on a comprehensive policy, and then deposit that amount into an interest earning account. I have never needed to access this money, as I drive carefully and don't park in stupid places. If something does go wrong, I would get a small loan against the value of my "insurance account", and then pay it back, keeping my account intact. This saves me thousands a year in wasted policy payments, earns a little interest and is there in case I need it. Helps out the credit rating too.
That's a great approach to managing your own risk and savings!
Can't tell you how much insurance has been taken away from Vic Rac due similar experience with them. Will say that there are companies with brilliant service within the insurance industry.
Well done on sharing your story and getting a better than could have been outcome
Thanks Todd, I watched the video twice and you explained it all really well. I had no idea quite how close you came to having the fuel filter ignite! Lucky you weren't trying to get your toddler out of his carseat during the fire! I was interested that the engine was initially still running. If you had turned the engine off straight away, does that mean your water pump would not have worked? Do you have a fire extinguisher as well? Do you have any mates or contacts who are auto-electricians? They might have some expert advice for powering up your extra gadgets. I am thrilled you found a replacement; 'Phoenix' is perfect for the new name :)
Hey Todd,
I know that sinking feeling mate. Going around a blind corner heading down a hill when some fool, over .05, stoned (medically apparently😂), unregistered and driving like a fool came across the double lines and we hit head on at around 170-180kph! Between me seeing his rooftop coming up around the bend and watching the centre of his grill hit my driver's side chassis rail took just enough time - like 0.8 seconds, for me to think to myself...'so, this is how it ends.'
I was in my pride & joy 2015 Hilux (MY'14) nearly ready to take on the cape. This was late during covid and the increased value era, shall we say, I searched and searched for a Hilux of the same model and k's...I purchased it new for $44k. Same car then had gone to $45-48k but they would only give me $24k. After 4mths with no work car and arguing my point I got $29k and the bought an emaculate '08 Prado Grande for $29k xxey but I love it and been watching your vids since. I just want to stress your point to all others...KNOW YOUR POLICY! If he was insured I would have got a replacement but in his state I was getting whatever I could argue for which still wasn't enough. He went away in the westpack chopper and is now doing time. I walked away in amazment at how good airbags are.
Far out that sounds horrific, glad you are ok mate!
I know some will say that at the end of the day its just a car, but you and I both know that our 4WDs mean more to us than that. Replacing them is hard enough, but when the dollars aren't there and COVID is messing with car prices, its very difficult.
Glad you are enjoying the channel though, cheers for watching!
I’m interested to know if the items they allowed you to take off the car where listed on the insurance policy as additional accessories? And did you have to pay for them?
Hey mate, no they only work with a single value for the vehicle, not Vehicle + Accessories. I had a long conversation with the assessor to figure out exactly what I could and couldn't take, and some things I did have to push for. Since a lot of second hand accessories don't really have any garuanteed value for the insurance company, they usually don't want them unless it can be sold for scrap. So the RTT, drawers, fridge, etc were all just given to me. The rear bar had some scrap value, but I asked nicely and said it was the wheel carrier and protection I was after, and the assessor let me have it free of charge. I'm sure if I offered money to buy back other items like bullbar or wheels and tyres that could have been arranged, but honestly I was happy to just buy these things new if needed.
Interesting. An earthing problem caused a fire! I thought rated wiring looms with fuses, protect wires from overloading and getting hot? It would be good to understand the problem. Is it an OEM defect or aftermarket product install issue?
Yeah it's not 100% certain but with the amount of damage there just wasn't any way to find a more specific cause. Whatever it was must have carried a heap of current because the fire started and flared so quickly.
Great advice mate thanks for the tip 👍
Any time!
A contract for agreed value is just that. If you are aware that the value of your car has increases substantially during your period of insurance, which has happened with a lot of vehicles these last couple of years, you, as the insured party, should negotiate a new agreed value at any time during the year, and pay any premium adjustment. It's not rocket science. It's pretty easy to moan and groan that the next renewal has lifted the agreed value by 30%, rather than praise the company for doing that. Keep on top of your asset protection, folks.
Completely agree mate, I signed the contract and agreed to the value. As I did say, it was the maximum agreed value I could get even though I thought it was worth more, but I still agreed to it. I just thought it was a bit cheeky to tease me about the vehicle being worth so much more than what I could get paid out for it. I know that going forward I will need to only settle on insurance that will cover the actual replacement value of the vehicle plus accessories in the event I lose the car completely.
good to see you got in to another 200
To be honest, I couldn't find or think of any other car that came close!
@@offroadcrusader there is nothing that come close the best tourer I’ve had I might be a little biased I’ve come from a Prado 2 the 200 best thing I done. they just do most things well and in comfort .I’m looking forward to seeing you change it to your needs.
Hi just started to follow you. Great Tips to look on insurance cover . How do you know this crusier is not going to catch fire from the same earth problem again. 🤔
Thanks Bruce! Earth problem in the last car seemed to be caused by rubbed off insulation behind the fuel filter. From now on all wiring in the engine bay will get black convoluted tubing over it to prevent this
Well done mate, its great that you found an awesome replacement 😊
Thanks 👍
I just checked 4 big and popular insurance companies the clause they got you on doesn't apply in the context your insurer used it in most. They simply say they won't repair structural, mechanical, electrical or electronic failure or breakdown in the same way they won't repair tyre damage. One of them which has a lot of enthusiasts covered however adds the words "You are not covered under any section of this policy for damage, loss, cost or legal liability that is caused by or arises from or involves: • any structural, mechanical, electrical or electronic failure or breakdown". I am involved in a Car Club with several hundred members across Australia 90% of whom I am sure are insured through this popular insurer and ALL or whom are now aware of this stupid policy. This is going to cost Shannon's dearly as both Enthusiast Car Insurance and RACV Enthusiast Insurance don't use this exclusion clause in this way and will in fact fully cover your losses to the value of the sum insured. RACV goes so far as to expressly say so in their coverage statement that they will cover you in case of loss due to vehicle fire.
Fuck. What a shock and what a story. Never expected this to pop up. Im glad it worked out for you
Glad u r back on the road. After watching this I checked my insurance and unlike yours it covers fire without any reference to what caused the fire and does not separate electrical etc. Your insurance company sucks. One of my past 4x4 's that my daughter wrote off ( not her fault ). We were able to take anything off it we wanted.
Ah thats great, who are you insured with? Keeping your old accessories is an awesome way to reclaim some value back instantly, especially if its DIY mods with personal value.
@@offroadcrusaderCurrently with GIO. but on previous 4X4 was with Aamie. Usually rotate between the 2. Would never would go back to Budget as a repair they did on my wife's car some years ago was rubbish. I have painted a few boats ( as a hobby ) and the job they did, was very poor quality
I guess that insurance companies are partly worried about covering costs related to , in some cases, could be seen as slack vehicle maintenance .
Thank you for the hot tip, pardon the pun x
So glad things worked out for you, would you go with the same insurer again after your experience or someone else
To be honest, RAC have been great for the last 14 years. It was just one assessor and one clause in the PDS that held it all up. Their customer service was impecible, and I don't want to soil their good work with the actions of one individual.
Just found your channel. Looks like your in WA too?
Sure am mate!
Good to hear you got it paid out, that's scary stuff (fire and insurance loophole) - are you still insured with RAC now?
Am still weighing up different options. RAC have been great overall, and I don't want to let one person from them soil the rest of them. Low premiums and RAC discounts all add up.
It would take a pretty good offer from another insurance company to compete with that, but have been recommended Club4X4 and Shannons
I was with Shannon’s and moved to club 4x4 mainly for the fact that they are the only ones that will cover you if you are off road. I put this scenario to RACV, Shannon’s and AAMI.” What if I was driving though a river and the engine took water and completely wrecked the engine. The big 3 all said I won’t be covered. They even won’t cover you if you drive through water on a bitumen culvert as they class it as an act of recklessness. Club 4x4 said I would be up for an extra $2k excess but I would rather pay an extra $2k than probably at least $10k for a new motor. Or being an older vehicle they might have written it off. From what I have read from other people Club 4x4 are not perfect but at least you are covered off road.
Thanks mate, great video
Glad you enjoyed it!
very sensible re insurance. I find it amusing when they say its "agreed value" who's agreed value?
Exactly mate. It has raised a lot of questions for me thats for sure.
@@offroadcrusader Every time I renew the policy I call them up and increase the value to the maximum permissible. In one case it didn't cost me anything because it was still within the policy allowance. Always read PDS.
Great video contexts!!!
although you should follow a guideline of subject as thinking as you speak makes the video hard to follow.
Lots of hum, mmm, and repeating words.
Speak to a cold camera instead of an audience isn’t easy.
Keep them coming
Your channel is pretty good
Cheers
Thanks for the tips! I'm always looking to improve. Would love your feedback on future videos if you get time!
Any ideas how to prevent or identify this wiring short or issue prior?
I'd love to say I know exactly what happened, but it still isn't clear. All I could advise is to be vigilant to new smells in the car. Have fire extinguishers ready to go, and be ready to remove any valuables from the car if needed.
So what caused the fire
Damaged wire in the earthing circuit on the passengers side engine loom. Too much damage to find anything specific, but its the best we could find
@@offroadcrusader I has a similar fire under the bonnet years ago. It was caused by a battery terminal touching the bonnet when the bonnet was closed. So there was no fusing. The earth wire from the battery to the body was the one that burnt and caused the fire. So IMO the earth lead burning would be secondary to a short elsewhere.
Glad your claim was eventually accepted and you are through the worst of the experience.
The new rig looks very nice. Can you reveal how much you paid?
Thanks mate, really appreciate it!
I didn't get much change out of my payout thats for sure, and by the time I got rego, stamp duty, transfer fees and new insurance I was definitely out of pocket by a fair wack!
Beautiful looking car. Looks too clean tho. When are we getting her dirty?
Very soon!
You know, i think i might up my value after this 😅
If they make the claim of computer or electrical or whatever. They need to prove there claim.
He who makes the claim need to prove the claim.
Yeah that was my arguement. The assessor had only seen photos of the vehicle from an office somewhere, not actually done any testing or forensic work to determine a cause or repair.
Insurance best equals 'In-Shallah'
NRMA will pay u with in a week my father in law car burnt to the ground an was payed with in a week
Yeah I was told if I let it burn down completely it is just a total loss, but because it was fire damage it complicated it significantly.
They are all the same in insurance companies dont understand how they are all part time not any full time ones...
So your suspension breaks causing you to crash, there is no insurance. Dogshit policy
Thank god i decided to leave rac and go to club 4x4
I changed from Shannon’s to Club 4x4. While they won’t be perfect at least you are covered off road. None of the others will cover that.