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#Post#: 57522--------------------------------------------------
smoking wires
DIR By: stevej
Date: April 16, 2013, 6:30 am
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I drove home from work this morning and thought i had better
turn my lights on. Almost instantly smoke started pouring from
my dash. So I took off the dash panel that holds the clocks in
(series 1) and the wire from the light switch was hot and the
plastic insulation had melted. the only thing I have done with
the wiring this week was reconnect the charge light wire to the
alternator. So these should be unrelated.
Do you think the wiring has reached the end of its life and
should be replaced?
Is it just earthing out on something?
have i done something else that might affect it?
Will changing that wire fix the problem or is there another
reason for this happening?
#Post#: 57523--------------------------------------------------
Re: smoking wires
DIR By: seriesewan
Date: April 16, 2013, 7:15 am
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something in the back of my mind says that the alternator wont
charge the battery unless the charge light is functioning,
something to do with energising the coil. ( i will wait for an
adult to come along & explain that properly or tell me i am
talking bullshit )
if the above is correct then your whole electrical system may be
running at a higher voltage due to the newly found / improved
charging abilities
#Post#: 57528--------------------------------------------------
Re: smoking wires
DIR By: Goose
Date: April 16, 2013, 10:22 am
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I suspect it's unrelated - if the alternator was kicking out
more voltage then the current in the wires would actually drop
(v=ir and all that). But whilst you were behind there you may
have dislodged something so that the headlights are shorting out
to ground somewhere, hence the burning. Do you have a
multimeter? Would be worth checking the headlight wiring for any
shorts to ground.
#Post#: 57529--------------------------------------------------
Re: smoking wires
DIR By: stevej
Date: April 16, 2013, 10:49 am
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The charge light had not worked for 2/3 months (i must have
knocked the wire off the alternator when i tightend the belt).
The Landy is now my daily drive so the battery must have been
charging without it over the winter (although i did have to jump
it twice -7 and all that).
I too am suspecting it earthing out somewhere and am hoping it
is behind the dash i will investigate tomorrow with a multi
meter.
Both the green and red lights on the dash do seem bright though,
and i now have a break light out. probably all coincidence?
#Post#: 57538--------------------------------------------------
Re: smoking wires
DIR By: feelinperky
Date: April 16, 2013, 12:28 pm
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Il pop down tomorrow as it looks like il be yet again off work
due to breakdowns if you like?. :smiley-furious:
Sound like an earth problem dont it! my right indicator has gone
all funny as it happens.......... :thumbs:
#Post#: 57540--------------------------------------------------
Re: smoking wires
DIR By: mark-h
Date: April 16, 2013, 12:42 pm
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dashboard genie - thats sounds familiar i rewired the lot. thus
eliminating it completely
#Post#: 57582--------------------------------------------------
Re: smoking wires
DIR By: stevej
Date: April 16, 2013, 2:59 pm
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Dashboard genie I like that.
Cheers perky always glad of a hand. If I'm not about when you
land give me a ring I will have just finished nights at 6 so
might have dozed off, I will try to stop up as usual though
:smile1
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