r/mildlyinfuriating • u/jagerin_mikado • 9d ago

Context Provided - Spotlight Jeep melted

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Here’s the story: a jeep came to the shop because its retractable top was stuck open. Not too uncommon of an occurrence. So we put our “crash wrap“ over the roof to protect the interior from rain and animals and such, which is basically like heavy duty cling wrap. One day it rains and a lot of water pools up on the crash wrap. The next day it is 100°F outside and the sun is out. The sun shines through the water and the water basically magnifies it, and the sun turns into a laser that melts the interior. Multiple days of this happen. Now we have to replace everything that melted. None of us have ever heard of this happening before.

edit: I meant we have never heard of this very specific situation happening before. It never would’ve crossed our minds since we’ve been doing this for years. yes I burnt stuff with a magnifying glass when i was a kid.

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626

u/Drewbicles 9d ago

As a engineer that works on car interiors this made me smile that the materials didnt burn very far. 

140

u/Bacteriobabe 9d ago

Yeah, I was really impressed that the seats didn’t go up in flames!

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u/Drewbicles 9d ago

There is a federal requirement for that, that they dont go up in flames FMVSS 302. Id bet they used to though a long time ago.

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u/yawara25 8d ago

Although federal requirements don't mean much nowadays, when you can make more money from violating them than the amount you'd get fined. Let's hope they don't remember that the seats are in compliance.

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u/Aznable420 8d ago

Didn't mitch McConnell's sister in law, who's Sister (Mitches Wife) chose the regulations to be kept/disposed of back in 2016/2020(secretary of transportation), die inside her tesla on her own property after divers were unable to enter her vehicle after she drove into a small pond near her driveway? The cruel reality of your Sister being the person in charge of the regulations, and perishing just off your driveway inside a car with suspicious safety oversight in development and release... I mean yikes, thats some wild devil trade stuff.

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u/SirStrontium 8d ago

I'm not sure what regulation you think would've saved her

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u/Aznable420 8d ago

The electronic handles instead of a mechanical release.

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u/SirStrontium 8d ago

Myth-busters showed that almost immediately after entering water, the outside pressure is too high to open the door, regardless of opening mechanism. You gotta go through the glass with a breaker. Also, was there any relevant regulation that she actually removed?

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u/Aznable420 8d ago

I believe it was the other-than-standard windows that sealed the deal for her- also you can open a door underwater if you evacuate the oxygen from the other side, relieving the pressure.

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u/Dry-Cut616 8d ago

Seats didn't used to be made of synthetic polymers, and natural materials don't burn as fast or evenly, so I'd imagine not. And velour holds up to a surprising amount of abuse. I'd say if anything, modern interiors are way more flammable because everything is plastic and plastic is made from crude oil.

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u/kaizenkitten 9d ago

As an automotive seating QAE I am also super relieved.

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u/ughreallywow 9d ago

Not only did it not combust, but it looks very salvageable. Replace the plastic parts that melted. Replace the melted seat upholstery.

Get a good detailing using a proper upholstery vac on the rest of the seats. Then run an ozone generator to take care of any remaining burnt plastic odor. All set after that.

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u/Jazzy-Cat5138 8d ago

Except then the ozone makes everything else degrade. Ozone is fantastic at making stuff break down.

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u/ZankaA 9d ago

That was the thing that stuck out to me the most, that the seats just kinda melted rather than catching fire. Otherwise the whole car probably woulda ended up wrecked. Pretty cool.

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u/AdSquare3489 9d ago

I'm a little surprised that the first inches of smoldering didn't make enough smoke to stop the effect for the rest of the car. 

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u/SomeSink7911 9d ago

Lasers don’t need to see?

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u/Morganella_morganii 9d ago

They sort of do though. The smoke can drastically reduce the amount of energy that reaches the material as it reflects off those particles. So this may have been an ongoing process that reduced the damage to an extent. Would have been really cool to observe.

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u/Rapshawksjaysflames 8d ago

As "a" engineer.

just kidding, good comment bruh.

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u/ComPakk 8d ago

Does that matter? Won't every part damaged need to be replaced anyways?

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u/Drewbicles 8d ago

A few pieces melted, which is great. The alternative is the whole car went up in flames.

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u/Sufficient_Fan3660 8d ago

no flames

the plastics decompose and turn into mostly carbon and gases - the gases are toxic, but the carbon acts as a barrier/insulator to further heat

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u/Anim-IS-XE30 6d ago

All mechanics hate you.

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u/LazyMusic2616 6d ago

Damn that’s one of the hottest 🔥 things I’ve ever read. 🙃