Removed 24v wiring harness, SMOKE

[Dop]

I have just removed the 24v wiring harness and the batteries from my FFR. All good, just went down the road to buy some scotch (may be the problem), on the way back a huge cloud of smoke (blue) and a small hiss came from the drivers dash. When I removed the harness, I opened this box to find a total mess of wiring. I simply placed it all back in the box, I didn't cover any wire ends as they were not covered when I opened it. I am attaching some photos, the wire that burnt comes off the ignition barrel, than travelled over to the box in the centre of the Dash. I think it was not connected to anything and when I pushed the wires back in to close it that is when it must have shorted? The Landy still starts, the head lights still work, the centre diff lock still functions, don't know what this wire does? In the photo the screw driver is pointing to the terminal that I got the wire off. Grant

[Dervish]

There aren't supposed to be any red wires to the ignition switch, so I'd say it's a patch. At a guess; aux power socket, map light or dashboard gauge lights.

[Dop]

Thank you Dervish, I removed all the wires from behind the engine Hrs gauges and covered them, I think it was a AUX wire that had been disconnected. Why would you disconnect a live wire from what it powers and then not cover it? Dash lights still work, I have no idea what it had been used for! by the way the two gauges that are mounted in the centre panel were not connected, is that the norm with FFRs? The army must disconnect them when they remove the rest of the equipment. Anyway, thank you again Dervish.

[Phil B]

That red wire may have been the feed for the ammeter?

[Chris078]

Thank you Dervish, I removed all the wires from behind the engine Hrs gauges and covered them, I think it was a AUX wire that had been disconnected. Why would you disconnect a live wire from what it powers and then not cover it? Dash lights still work, I have no idea what it had been used for! by the way the two gauges that are mounted in the centre panel were not connected, is that the norm with FFRs? The army must disconnect them when they remove the rest of the equipment. Anyway, thank you again Dervish.

Lucas wiring + 25 years of Army hacking at it = a mess.

Those gauges normally work. Mine also tried to burn itself down at one point (for no reason that I could ever work out). In fact it has done it twice.
The wiring in some (many) Perenties seems to be a complete hatchet job.
A crappy harness to begin with then hacked to add and change different things over the years leaves a complete mess.

That line was probably going to the hour meter, which actually works when the ignition is on, rather than the engine, which defies the point of an hour meter, (but that's another discussion). and it's eventually rattled itself down to where it can earth and 'poof!'.


Count yourself lucky it didn't burn down completely. Just keep going through the wiring, remove anything unnecessary, and fix up the bad/un insulated and unfused wires as you go.

and carry a fire extinguisher.

[Dop]

Lucas wiring + 25 years of Army hacking at it = a mess.

Those gauges normally work. Mine also tried to burn itself down at one point (for no reason that I could ever work out). In fact it has done it twice.
The wiring in some (many) Perenties seems to be a complete hatchet job.
A crappy harness to begin with then hacked to add and change different things over the years leaves a complete mess.

That line was probably going to the hour meter, which actually works when the ignition is on, rather than the engine, which defies the point of an hour meter, (but that's another discussion). and it's eventually rattled itself down to where it can earth and 'poof!'.


Count yourself lucky it didn't burn down completely. Just keep going through the wiring, remove anything unnecessary, and fix up the bad/un insulated and unfused wires as you go.

and carry a fire extinguisher.

Thanks Chris078, I have covered all the wires with electrical tape now. I don't know how they got them all in there! From what I have removed and adjusted from the landy it appears that the ADF don't do much by half, but their auto electrics leave you wondering!