FFTS
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 11:25 AM |
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Hot ignition wire, smoke and blown fuse :( HELP!!
Took Becky (now for sale) out last night with a potential buyer. Went for a good hard drive of about 10 miles with no problems. Noticed about 5 mins
from home that the led mileage display on the Revotech speedo had gone blank and the needle was stuck at 30mph and running slightly rough. The guy
didnt notice and was very happy with her and deciding after he gets back from his holiday away. Went to start her in the garage again and the battery
was flat so charged her overnight. Came to start her this morning and as the engine turned over a few times then the main 30amp fuse blew. Replaced
and turned the ignition to notice that the live feed to the engine on the back of the ignition barrel got very hot and then smoke appeared from behind
the dash at which stage I switched off and here I am..
Once the battery was charged the speedo needle and display all reset ok. So any ideas from the symptoms described and where do I start (in laymans
terms please) 
Chris.
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Peteff
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 11:31 AM |
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Check the regulator/rectifier and any earth leads you can find.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Werner Van Loock
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 11:52 AM |
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wich ignition switch u have? std sierra or aftermarket?
live feed to engine, u mean the one that goes to the alternator? Check if it hasnt undone itself at the alternator side and check wether the
insulation of the wire isnt damaged anywhere along the way.
And to me it smells like your 30 amp fuse is too strong, fuses are meant to protect your cabling, not the equipment. So fusing is according to cable
size.
http://www.clubstylus.be
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FFTS
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 11:55 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
Check the regulator/rectifier and any earth leads you can find.
Is that the thing that looks like a heat sink on the bulkhead under bonnet front of scuttle?
Chris.
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FFTS
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 12:04 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Werner Van Loock
wich ignition switch u have? std sierra or aftermarket?
live feed to engine, u mean the one that goes to the alternator? Check if it hasnt undone itself at the alternator side and check wether the
insulation of the wire isnt damaged anywhere along the way.
And to me it smells like your 30 amp fuse is too strong, fuses are meant to protect your cabling, not the equipment. So fusing is according to cable
size.
Aftermarket with 3 x spades on the back!
The wiring is what was in the car to start but I take your point. Would a 20 amp be enough to power whats needed on a normal load though?
Chris.
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stevebubs
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 12:18 PM |
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Go check your earths!
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Werner Van Loock
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 12:22 PM |
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well, the switch might be the problem, if it is not up to the job, then the contacts may be worn causing sparks and stuff.
First try to find the cause of smoke, my bet is on the ingition switch itself, indicating that it can't handle 30 amps If it is a wire that has
gone hot, then the fuse is too heavy for the wiring and it wasn't right in the first place. A 20 or 25 amp fuse will probably blow instantly,
but u could try it, if it goes, then you have to find out what is using so much power, and all u can do is measure or "trial and error"
method (ie diconnecting stuff and trying) but that could use up a lot of fuses.
Do you have a schematic of the wiring? That could help a lot, as you know what the 30 amp fuse is feeding.
[Edited on 17/5/10 by Werner Van Loock]
http://www.clubstylus.be
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Stott
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 12:59 PM |
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From the symptoms I'd say the switched live out of the ign barrel to the fusebox/circuits has gone to ground, which would take out the main
fuse.
I'd be looking for where this wire has rubbed through and touched earth if it was mine
HTH
Cheers
Stott
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FFTS
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 03:01 PM |
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OK thanks up to now.. just to be clear it is the MAIN 30amp fuse by the battery that feeds the whole car electrics.
Also Iv'e been driving her daily for 6 months so its not the initial setup but something that happened on the drive last night.
[Edited on 17/5/10 by FFTS]
Chris.
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Stott
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| posted on 17/5/10 at 04:20 PM |
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As I said above, the only way that fuse should blow is if you've got a short to earth after the fuse on the way to the ign barrel or from the
barrel to the fusebox or to the starter solenoid as this is unfused (by the fusebox)
But given your first post description (warm lead from ign barrel to engine) the short won't be on the battery to barrel side.
It shouldn't be fault with any of your circuits as long as they are all fused individually and correctly
Cheers
Stott
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