Engine back-fire - lots of pipework popped off!!!!!

[oxford_hippo]

Help!

went to start the car this evening, loud-ish backfire,
tried again,
engine woudl start , revs rise a bit to 2500ish, - but die instantly.[]

Lifted up to see all three inlest on the right hand side as you look in had popped off their connections []( 'fraid that's as far as I can get with technical parts names...

any ideas what coudl have caused this - car has just had annual service - 50miles ago, and had new plugs, caps and leads.


THanks for any pointers,
T[]

 

[oxford_hippo]

sorry, forgot to add spec:
it's a C4, 1995.

In the rain, waiting for the AA.................[]

 

[Mark Elder]

Oh - does not sound good.

When you say "lifted up" do you mean "car" (so you are looking from underside) or just the hood?

 

[John Maddox]

Could it be that the Distributor drive belt has slipped/broken resulting in a massive change of ignition timing ?? Others may be able to add more ?

 

[Porker993]

If the plastic (pre-vario) inlet manifold pipes have popped off, sounds like it could be down to some sort of catastrophic backfire. I would have the car trailered to my local specialist to be checked over. It may be just a matter of putting the pipes back on and starting the engine, but I suspect the explosion may have caused more damage than that.

Ouch. Hope it is not too expensive. Let us know ?