Help Smoking Dash. And hello all.

DaveBattye · 27th February 2017, 09:42 PM

Hello AULRO community.

David Battye here.

Im a new member to this site and also new to series ownership. I picked up a 73 Series 3 88 petrol about 6 months ago and am loving it. Its my daily driver and it runs far better than I was expecting to be honest. Slow and bumpy and wet in the rain but great. Ive read through just about every thread relating to series 3's and they have been full of useful info. I cant get enough.

I am however in a bit if a pickle. Parking at home the other day after driving around for an hour or so in pretty hot weather (40 ish degrees) the dash started to smoke. It happened pretty quickly and I had to tip a small amount of water over the dash to stop it. Dumb maybe but I didn't have an extinguisher handy (also dumb), a pattern emerging perhaps?. After id disconnected the battery and everything had calmed down I opened up the box that holds the fuses and inspected. A thick brown wire had melted and made contact with a thin blue wire. A number of the brown wire connections were now pretty crispy where they connect with the fuse box. Also some of the wires coming off the ignition lock were crispy as well.

I cleaned these wires up and electrical taped them best I could, reconnected the battery and tried to start the car and nothing. The ignition lock felt a bit stuffed so I assumed it was the issue and ordered a new one.
It arrived, I installed it, tried to start her and nothing. No dash lights, no recognition of any type that the key had been turned. The headlights and high beams still work but that's about it.

The original lucas ignition lock I removed has 7 prongs and the new replacement has only 5. My ignition wires are 1 thick brown 1 white 1 white and red and 1 brown and red. The motor is a rover 2 1/4 petrol and the car is very original.
I need help, what am I doing wrong? I would truly appreciate any and all help or recommendations you the fine members of the AULRO might provide.

Thank you very much in advance.
DB

**JDNSW** · 28th February 2017, 05:16 AM

You need to get a wiring diagram and a meter or test light, and check the circuits involved. There is probably more damage than you have located, but it may be simply incorrect wiring of the new switch. Replacing the switch just because it "felt a bit stuffed" is not good practice.

The easiest place to get a wiring diagram is perhaps to get a CD from the "Shop" above, and help the forum, but a search may find one on the web.

If you don't feel competent to do this, you need to find someone who is. Perhaps there is someone from the forum who is near you and is able to help.

DaveBattye · 28th February 2017, 06:37 AM

Hi John. Thanks for your reply.

Ive got the wiring diagram and have had a good look. Ill get myself a meter today and check all wires. Im not hugely competent in this area but I may get lucky.

**Phil B** · 28th February 2017, 09:12 AM

Where about in Sydney are you?

DaveBattye · 28th February 2017, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Phil B

Where about in Sydney are you?

Hi Phil. I'm in Paddington in the east.

**Phil B** · 28th February 2017, 10:46 AM

I'm the opposite end of town near Windsor
I'm no sparky but If you need a hand please shout
Phil

DaveBattye · 28th February 2017, 11:45 AM

Thanks Phil that's very kind of you.

**Dark61** · 28th February 2017, 01:32 PM

Mate - it probably looks worse than it is. I managed to sort mine out ( admittedly it didnt catch fire). A colour wiring diagram, a multimeter and or a test lamp on long leads is/are your friend(s). I always take the negative terminal off the battery when i park up. GOod luck with it.
cheers,
d

**steveG** · 28th February 2017, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by Dark61

Mate - it probably looks worse than it is. I managed to sort mine out ( admittedly it didnt catch fire). A colour wiring diagram, a multimeter and or a test lamp on long leads is/are your friend(s). I always take the negative terminal off the battery when i park up. GOod luck with it.
cheers,
d

Along the same lines, one of the first mods I did to my daughter's County after it first started letting out smoke was to fit one of the Narva battery switches (red plastic key style) to the negative battery lead. Its mounted through the seatbox so the key is under the passengers legs and easily accessible.
Its very quick to flick off and isolate the battery if anything electrical goes pear shaped.

IMO degraded wiring is one of the highest damage risks on older vehicles, so its a case of doing what you reasonably can to prevent it, but preparing for when (not if) it does...

Steve

**ChrisInAus** · 7th March 2017, 08:02 PM

Hi Steve,

That sounds like a good idea, are they easy to install?

Ive been in a Landy when it caught fire, fuel lead came off the carburettor, and being just above the manifold it was enoug to get it going, extinguisher on hand luckily and it was running again 2 days later!

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