Thread: who let the smoke out?

it seems that i may have a problem.

recently, when out and about with cheeky, my v8 decided to lose all the instrument panel stuff, no tach, no speedo, no fuel gauge, no warning light tests.
in fact the only things on the instrument panel were the indicator light and the high beam light.

so after some misunderstanding of the fuse box and a desire to remove the instrument cluster to prove that the cluster was ok, i found the fuse was blown.
fix test no 1- insert new fuse, turn on ign, looks like we have some thing working, try a start, engine started, all good, temp and fuel beginning to move and tacho working.
poof.
fuse blown.
and a very tiny wiff of smoke.
hmm, check fuse, yep it's done it's job.
shut down engine and rethink.

well it has been naughty before in the fuel pump/fuel gauge transmitter area before, and i did also recall someone last week at the dare mentioning that the reverse lights didn't work.

looked at the reverse lights through the lens, cannot see bulbs, however assumed they should work, like how often do two lamps fail at the same time?, searched for another fuse, no problem there.

well i then ripped the rear apart and disconnected the plug at the fuel tank, so now we have eliminated the fuel gauge transmitter and pump from being the problem.

ok found another instrument cluster fuse and wacked it in, key on to engine position, looking good.
so i try a start, turn key to start, zip, zilch nothing zip!
and it didn't start.
so key off and remembering that it also has a loose push on thingy at the starter, i crawl under and fiddle with that again, hmm, is that smoke i can smell?
so waste more time looking for more smoke to no avail.

orright, let's try that start again, turns key to start, zip, re try, and retry and think about what happens when fuel pump is disconnected, maybe the computer knows that there isn't enough fuel pressure so saves the battery by not starting, try the key again, and again,

oooh there's that smoke smell again, pokes head under bonnet and just spies the last wisps of smoke from over there on the other side of the firewall, perhaps behind the windscreen washer tank.

emergency decision made to disconnect the batteries, done.

attempt to remove the water tank thwarted by land rover's design team, so adjourned until this arvo when more tools brought in.

ok, tank out, battery hooked up, her indoors recruited as an assistant to operate the key,

ok, start it, no the engine won't go, the starter doesn't work.

the key is turned to start.

after a short time the smoke left in the wiring loom by mr land rover begins to eminate from somewhere down under the gearbox tunnel, as if the gearbox loom is melting,
orright, you can turn it off.
more smoke,
what?
turn it off.
more smoke.
you want it off?
yes please.
more smoke.
rapidly now disconnecting battery.
smoke seems to stop, hopefully it has stopped, as i haven't been out there for a couple of hours.




now we cannot blame mr lucas for this, as i doubt if he had anything to do with the wiring in a 95 disco, but mr magnetti marelli might be to blame, or me for using this car past it's use by date.

anyway, my problem now is to find the problem and fix it.

does anyone know about the wiring system of the 95 v8 auto disco?
i do not have a diagram and need to either fix the problem, or recheck the insurance policy [just joking amy]

heeeelp?

Originally Posted by harry

yep, sure is.
but cheeky isn't allowed to play with my v8, as she has given the v8 a cold and now he is dripping some green stuff from the nose.

and the back of the engine, and oil, and auto fluid.

Best way to fix a V8 cold is a dose of Car Go Seal Up.

If symptoms persists see Dr Outcast for a spare V8.