My car won't start :(

[Luni260z]

:'(

 

Almost have my car on the road after 8 years ..

Have rebuilt almost everything. Ready for rego .. almost have the money for rego ..

 

Stupid car started this morning .. kinda .. kept trying the key ... smoke came out of the bonnet.

 

Now I now have no electrics whatsoever ..

 

Any ideas ... i assume I killed my starter motor and that's killed the circuit, but any help would be really REALLY appreciated.

 

To repeat, any help greatly appreciated ... so so sad.  :'(

[stevo_gj]

Sounds like perhaps something shorted. Check your fusible links - they are two thick wires usually covered by a small plastic cap on the drivers side of the engine bay. I'd say you are going to need to get a wire tester out and start trying to find which wire has grounded. If you don't feel up to the task it's time to call the auto electrician i'm afraid

[Mr Camouflage]

Gonna need the Bosch equivalent of this I guess http://www3.telus.net/bc_triumph_registry/smoke.htm 

[RLY240]

Have you checked that the earth strap is installed between the chassis and the engine? If not then the cranking current is likely going through some smaller earth or even the choke cable.

Roger

[Scoota G]

There's a wire that feeds into the main body of the starter that gets hot just before your starter gives way, it's probably the cover on that wire that has burnt off.

[FLEXZED]

Sounds like perhaps something shorted. Check your fusible links - they are two thick wires usually covered by a small plastic cap on the drivers side of the engine bay. I'd say you are going to need to get a wire tester out and start trying to find which wire has grounded. If you don't feel up to the task it's time to call the auto electrician i'm afraid

 

sounds like the fusible link has blown :'(

 

is there more than 2 lots off fusible links on a zed, or do we have a parrot on this forum  :) :)

[.]

Maybe both the fusable links have blown.

 

I wrapped a set of jumper leads around my neck like a tie the other day. Then went to the bouncer at the entrance to a local nightclub. He looked me up and down and said "OK I'll let you in but don't you start anything!"

[Scoota G]

Ok so we have

 

1. Fuseable Links

2. Earth Strap

3. Starter wiring

 

Should we start placing bets seeing as the Perp hasn't chimed Back in yet?

:P

[Zeddophile]

Maybe both the fusable links have blown.

 

I wrapped a set of jumper leads around my neck like a tie the other day. Then went to the bouncer at the entrance to a local nightclub. He looked me up and down and said "OK I'll let you in but don't you start anything!"

 

That's shocking....

[Luni260z]

Ok so we have

 

1. Fuseable Links

2. Earth Strap

3. Starter wiring

 

Should we start placing bets seeing as the Perp hasn't chimed Back in yet?

:P

 

Wow,  I completely forgot I posted this.

 

I checked out the car earlier today. The ground wire from the battery to the car had snapped/burnt off.

 

Then down next to the (hang on, just woke up again.. let me find a pic) .. here : http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1073730454046720559OfDjjw ... Both wires on bottom right of this pic are burnt. Wires connecting to the box underneath it is also burnt. Another wire that leads no where is fried. And a couple of other spots are charred there also.

 

Are these the fusable links people are telling me about??

[Mr Camouflage]

Nope that's the Coil.

[Luni260z]

Nope that's the Coil.

 

So is the coil the likely problem and needing to be replaced. Or am I just looking at replacing those wires that are fried?

[stevo_gj]

Definitely replace all fried wires. Do you know what caused it?

 

Here is where the fusible links are located on my car

 

[Luni260z]

Definitely replace all fried wires. Do you know what caused it?

 

Here is where the fusible links are located on my car

 

I assume its related to the ground wire breaking off the battery.

But otherwise, no idea why it decided to fry itself.

 

Always wondered what was in that little box.

[.]

Be vary careful. The fusable links are the RESULT not the CAUSE. The fusable links are only there so you don't start a fire due to shorting or overheating wires.

 

If you just replace the fusable links you will be 95% sure to blow them straight away. You need to find the cause first or you are just wasting fusable links. If you think it is the starter earth or coil, fix them first.

[Luni260z]

Be vary careful. The fusable links are the RESULT not the CAUSE. The fusable links are only there so you don't start a fire due to shorting or overheating wires.

 

If you just replace the fusable links you will be 95% sure to blow them straight away. You need to find the cause first or you are just wasting fusable links. If you think it is the starter earth or coil, fix them first.

 

I haven't checked the fusable links just yet. Although I'd have thought they'd have blown before the wires melted near the coil.

[Luni260z]

I haven't checked the fusable links just yet...

 

Well, now I have. Turns out my real problems start on that side of the engine bay ...

Wire from the starter motor to something has burnt the housing off the cable. Wire from that to the alternator is where the wire has actually burnt free.

Not surprisingly, the fusable links are in perfect condition (although considering they didn't work, maybe that's not quite the case).

 

 

Pretty much every little wire in the enginebay has signs of burning. The big ones look fine.

 

Guess I need a new engine loom. Anyone know what one might set me back?

 

:'(

[Luni260z]

Done some checking and there seems to be some info for putting in a Performance 12/18 universal wiring loom - $550ish (including shipping)

Anyone here done this and know what might be involved?

I have a L26 with carbies.