Zara 41 1 Cars Posted August 20, 2006 Ok so Ian and myself went shopping in Jelly last night. On the way home the battery light came on (not a problem except as it idled it was off and then came on as we accelerated) Anywas we get in the car this morning to go to loughborough......again the battery light is on. Only this time we had a pit stop as we could smell burning. Pulled over stopped the car and there was smoke coming out of the dash behind the steering wheel. Now we know something is shorting out but what?? Had the alternator and battery tested and they are both more than good. Anyone got any ideas what this could be??? (P.S. Ian is still driving the car) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jackherer 543 Posted August 20, 2006 (P.S. Ian is still driving the car) I hope he has a fire extinguisher! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnie 0 Posted August 20, 2006 Check your Spark Leads. If something is cutted or unplugged there will be a sort circuit and battery light will warn you. I run out of battery while the engine was running because of this!Be careful! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BrainFluid Posted August 20, 2006 Sure sounds like a short circuit, did the smoke smell electrical? ie plasticy? Remind me of when I bought a dodgey fiesta for a run around once, I cant remember if the battery light came on of not but the previous owner had wired up the radio very poorly, some hard driving had disturbed the shoddy wiring and suddenly the car was filling up with with smoke from behind the dash all due to melting wires. I was lucky it didnt catch on fire...an extinguisher might not be so poor an idea. Nate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
j_turnell 137 3 Cars Posted August 20, 2006 Best stop driving take your dash to bits and try and trace the problem otherwise you could take your whole loom out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zara 41 1 Cars Posted August 24, 2006 cheers people, your help is appreciated! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vern 0 Posted August 24, 2006 Sorry to hijack but only just noticed Nate only lives round the corner form me in deepest darkest rural suffolk. Vern Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feb 47 Posted August 24, 2006 What car is this? Probably you have already checked this as it would be obvious, but I had some smoke coming out when the alternator tensioner bearing seized in my ZX resulting in the alternator belt getting caught/melting hence the smoke and the battery light being on. If you are talking about a 205 though that doesn't have an alternator tensioner. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zara 41 1 Cars Posted August 25, 2006 the car being in the title!! :) :) thanks though feb. he is off to get a new alternator this morning and see what happens from there. It is actually pushing out far too much charge. I should have said that when i said both were tested at more than good! think it was pushing out 15.3 where as max should be 14. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zara 41 1 Cars Posted August 25, 2006 Sorted......We have changed the alternator and all seems well. Tomoz im gonna take the dash out and see if we cant find these melted wires...... P.S. Feb 205's do have alternator tensioners!! thanks for the help people! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites