Flames And Smoke!

[pugfrank 14 1 Cars]

Well I popped out to the garage last week and just buy chance arrived in the nick of time as I found smoke and flames coming from under the bonnet! Bugger!!

 

Don't have a clue what has caused it, car has stood still most of winter last works been carried out in march last year, its been running like a dream so just been driving it since then.

 

Can anyone help me out for causes of my mini disaster! Is the most likely reason electrical short from old wiring? For reference the car is completely standard no tricky bits or mods.

 

I fear the insurance company are not going to be bothered with fixing it!!

[dcc 855]

battery terminals shorting on the bonnet, or is that dim dip/rad fan resistor left hanging there?

[welshpug 1,666]

thats the fan resistor, which should be clipped to the radiator with a metal clip.

 

 

hard to tell, but does look like a self combusting battery for whatever reason.

[Anthony 1,003]

Hard to be sure when there's so much heat damage what came first, but the main engine bay loom does look to be burnt/melted considerably more than everything else making me wonder whether a short originated in there somewhere. The main power feed to the fusebox is in there which would carry sufficient current to easily start a fire and is constantly live. I have a feeling its unfused too...

 

Otherwise, it could be a spontaneously combusting battery as Mei says given that the main heat damage is certainly around that and, whilst rare, does happen - someone I know lost their 306 GTi-6 in similar circumstances when the battery exploded and burnt the car to a cinder whilst they watched

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Have a look at the positive wire from battery to starter to alternator and see if you see any nicks.

 

Any rodents partial to building a home in your garage?

 

Think you've been lucky, so has your house insurer!

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

This thread has reminded me to buy a decent vehicle fire extinguisher

[jackherer 543]

The main power feed to the fusebox is in there which would carry sufficient current to easily start a fire and is constantly live. I have a feeling its unfused too...

 

I'm pretty sure it should be fused in the shuntbox if it's plugged into the right position. AFAIK the only unfused wire is the main positive feed between the battery, starter and alternator.

[Ryan 99]

The shunt box has plugs for two fused and two unfused connections. The feed to the main fusebox is unfused.

[scbond 15 1 Cars]

Hard to tell but it looks like it could have started on the loom next to the battery before spreading? Whilst replacing bits I'd go through checking the wiring anyway.

[pugfrank 14 1 Cars]

I was very lucky as if I had not gone out at that specific moment would have lost the whole car! garage! the block of garages! I m thinking it was a short in main loom as it is melted the most.

 

Insurance assessor is due tomorrow!

[welshpug 1,666]

I wouldn't bother claiming, they WILL write it off, just get it sorted yourself.

 

You will need to be very careful as the burn bits will have dangerous chemicals and residues.

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

While its easy to say that the battery caused it by arcing on the bonnet, its possible it could be that black wire connected to the strut top.

 

I was setting my old engine up once and taking my time when that wire suddenly started smoking because it had got hot.

 

Just a thought as it was completely out of the blue and i hadnt touched anything wiring wise.

 

Is the battery damaged? Any holes in it? Does it still work?

Edited January 26, 2015 by Slo

[pugfrank 14 1 Cars]

Well as suspected the insurance company want to write it off! oh bugger!!

 

I would like to repair it my self, I don't have great mechanical skills, but am confident bolting things on and off.

 

I don't have a clue on electrics in cars! I gess a need to source a second hand wiring loom, how do I trace the short so it never happens again!

 

Better to seek a professional's help?

[welshpug 1,666]

better to cancel any proceedings with the insurance and find a local member that can help.

 

given the damage itll be difficult to identify the exact cause.

 

what year is your car? I see the coil on the ns wing so before 1990 ish, someone coild easily supply a checked over engine loom, I believe miles can do that as a service, I have some 8v looms too.

[pugfrank 14 1 Cars]

Car is a 1988. ok thanks for this will bare wiring loom in mind when I add up cost of parts at weekend!

 

Does miles have a website?

Edited January 27, 2015 by pugfrank

[Tom Fenton 1,548]

Given your location the man you want is Dan Taylor.

[pugfrank 14 1 Cars]

Yes it is with great thanks to Dan who did a lot of work on car last year for me that I am desperate to keep it on the road. As the work he did completely transformed the running and reliability of car.

 

I have emailed him and waiting to hear back from him.

[pugfrank 14 1 Cars]

Found a suspect wire, what do these relays control? and the wire into the bottom yellow plug?

 

How difficult is it to replace the loom?

[Anthony 1,003]

The relays are for the dim-dip headlights and the air horn.

 

The yellow plugs are earths. Typically, all yellow and green stripe wires are earth wires on 205 looms.

[pugfrank 14 1 Cars]

Thanks for that info. So how long would it take for a beginner to swap out the engine loom?

[scbond 15 1 Cars]

If you're competent with wiring it may be easier and cheaper to cut out the damaged parts and replace with fresh, brand new wires. Before removing any of it though you need to determine the actual cause to determine what to do to stop it happening again.

[Anthony 1,003]

You're probably talking about 2-3 hours to swap out the loom.

 

It's all pretty straight forward, just a bit awkward in the confines of the fuse board and getting it through the bulkhead.

 

Repairing what you've got is another option, but that'll depend how badly it's damaged, how far back the damage goes and how competent you are at repairing looms to a high standard. For the modest cost of a replacement loom in serviceable condition, I think that I would personally just replace it and be done with it.

[pugfrank 14 1 Cars]

quick up date, Dan popped in today to access the damage reckons I can get it up and running for sub £500, that dose not include the bonnet which can easily wait for later, just looks a bit tatty!!

[pugfrank 14 1 Cars]

Right taking things into my own hands, the weather is slowly becoming better here in the south and I'm getting twitchy with the fact that my car is a non runner at the moment!

 

I have here a replacement engine bay wiring loom. Just wanted to ask what tools should I have ready for the swap job (time is limited so want to be ready, rather than spending hours getting things from shops!)

 

What's ppls advice/best methods/plan of attack on the task I have in hand? I dread ending up with lots of wires with no homes!

 

I was thinking of labelling all wires and connectors as I remove old loom, then laying old loom on the floor with replacement loom, copying over my labelling and then reinstall?

[dcc 855]

Depends what loom you have - just engine loom? if so its a pig of a job and you'd be best off giving it to somebody else who knows what their doing. if you still want to have a go then - 2 plugs under dash, unplug loom (probs best to remove inlet tbh), pull wiring out. reverse to reinstall. but it really isn't the most pleasant of jobs.