7 replies to this topic

[1995 MK2 IOM]

tried starting the car this morning...

behaved like battery was flat... tried it a few times and then a white smoke came out of around the bonnet...

opened it up to find these wires smoking:



goes behind the ECU



ive pulled it out for a closer look...



cant really see from this picture...



but its burnt behind the brown cable connector too...

what's the best thing to do with it now?

obviously the car is now out of action for a bit till its sorted...

what would have caused this?

...any good auto electronics in/around Chester area?

cheers Jason

[Dan]

Your engine earth is faulty and the starter is trying to send the 150 - 200 amp cranking current down any connection it can find. It may well have done similar damage to your throttle, choke (if it has one) and heater (depending on the age of the car and the type of heater system) cables. It may also be boiling your brake fluid.

[ANON]

can put you in touch with someone on the wirral if you need it sorting

[1995 MK2 IOM]

can put you in touch with someone on the wirral if you need it sorting

that would be great thanks... I have no idea where to start with it...

do people think its going to be expensive?

Cheers

Jason

[1995 MK2 IOM]

just realised how bad quality these pictures are... will try to get some better ones up if it will help?

[Dan]

Suitable earth straps can be bought at Halfords for less than £5.00 if you need a new one. Fitting it is straightforward, it fits under one of the screws on the clutch cover at one end and to the bulkhead at the other. Replacing the wiring to your horn won't be expensive and it's not got original wiring to it now. You will also need to look for other damage but no, it won't cost a lot.

You should open the harness containing the orignal horn wiring to check along its length, the damage will go right back to the earth point on the bulkhead cross member. If the horn was moved back to the correct position it would be a simpler repair. Whoever wired your horn earth in brown cable should be terminated. Is that domestic wiring cable rather than automotive?

[1995 MK2 IOM]

Suitable earth straps can be bought at Halfords for less than £5.00 if you need a new one. Fitting it is straightforward, it fits under one of the screws on the clutch cover at one end and to the bulkhead at the other. Replacing the wiring to your horn won't be expensive and it's not got original wiring to it now. You will also need to look for other damage but no, it won't cost a lot.

You should open the harness containing the orignal horn wiring to check along its length, the damage will go right back to the earth point on the bulkhead cross member. If the horn was moved back to the correct position it would be a simpler repair. Whoever wired your horn earth in brown cable should be terminated. Is that domestic wiring cable rather than automotive?

it looks a bit out of place doesn't it! lol

I didn't know that wasn't where the horn is meant to be?

I hate electrics... so might let someone else do the repair... but I will get the thing stripped just so its easier to get to the problem...

Cheers

J

[Big_Adam]

Well you could check its the earth by checking the earth strap or just adding a jumper cable from the block to a good ground, but seeming as you already had smoke, might not be the best idea.