quote:

ORIGINAL: kristib00

My car is a 2002 Dodge Intrepid with a 2.7L enigine.  Three weeks ago, I was on my way to work when I noticed what looked like lots of exhaust coming from the back of my car, although the car felt and sounded like it was running just fine, I was concerned, so I took the next exit and pulled over.  Before I go on, let me just mention that although this car is getting up there in age and mile (120,000) the ONLY problem that I have ever had with it is a dead battery.
So, I pull over, and ass the car if slowing down, I notice that what I thought was exhaust comiung from the back of my car is actually smoke coming from underneath the hood.  Just as the car is rolling to a stop the engine sputters a bit, then stalls out.  I got out, opened the hood and my car was on fire......great!

I have it towed to a repair shop.  It sits there for 3 days before an iunsurance adjustor come out to inspect it.  It is determined that the wiring harness caused the fire, and the insurance will cover the costs to repair the wiring harness, some vacuum lines, and the coolant tank (all of which we're destroyed or damaged from the fire).  Almost 2 weeks later, I finally hear from the repair shop, and this is their story:
They started the engine up after the insurance adjustor left and drove the car around the parking lot and everything appeared to be running just fine.  Over the next 2 weeks the complete the repairs mentioned above, and start the car to test it out.  The mechanic starts the engine, then gets out and walks to the front of the car where he finds coolant spewing from the weep hole. 
The insurance company says they will not cover the repairs to the water pump, since we can not prove that the fire caused any issues with it, and it would fall into a lack of matenience on my part.  So I tell the repair shop to go ahead and fix it (for $450).  Three days later they call and tell me that it isn't actually my water pump, just the thermostat gasket.  So I tell them to fix that then (for $225).  The next day they call and say that they were wrong and it was actually the water pump, which they can reaplce for now $600......yeah, big price jump from a couple days ago, but that that is probably not the only issue since now the car won't even turn over, but they have no idea why, but that the could open it up and inspect the timing belt for $1500.

Basically, I had a great car the was working just fine even after the engine compartment caught fire, and now that it has sat at the repair shop for 3 weeks, it appears as though it is completely DEAD!  Is it possible that the fire did cause some kind of internal damage on the engine that would effect the water pump that would then make the insurance company responsible for covering the costs? 

Sorry that this is so long....and thanks for taking time to read it, and thanks even more if you take the time to respond!!  I just don't know what to do here.  I've paid full coverage insurance for years just for when something like this happenes.....now I'm stuck with a junk car and a bill for $200 (to cover my deductible).

quote:

ORIGINAL: kristib00
It is my understanding, from the opinions of other people that a car with a probable water pump issue should not be started.  Like I said , I don't know much about cars or how they work, but based on that information, I'm worried that they may have cause more damage to the engine by continously starting it.