Keeping your car in shape

It happens more often than you might realise, a car going up in flames for no apparent reason.

There's no crash scene, no obvious signs of what that led to the fire. So what happened? Any one of a number of things, say the experts.

Fire simply needs air, fuel and ignition. No one component is more likely to be the cause of a fire than another. But there are some commonsense rules.

Maintain your vehicle. Preventive maintenance usually means spending less money in the long run, and less chance of breakdowns or fires.

Get a mechanical inspection after any collision, however minor. A seemingly minor rear-ender might have dislodged an electrical harness or fuel line.

Trust your senses: the smell of raw fuel once the engine's warmed up is always a bad sign.

Have electrical accessories installed by specialists, keep an eye out for oil leaks, don't smoke in the car, and carry a fire extinguisher - it could be a lifesaver.