Emergency, please help, smoke inside car, none starter???

[Fireyred]

I went to start my Landy this evening at about 5.50pm and the key turned, but nothing happened. :-k

I normally get in and turn the interior light on so I can see what I am doing, based on the lighting where I am being totally rubbish. :(

As I turned the key the heat the plugs as normal, the light dimmed which I though odd, as well as the battery light and oil light that come on on start up, they dimmed too, and nothing happened, did not tick over or start in any way. :'(

  Then all of a sudden I saw smoke from the dash and it soon filled the front of the car and I had to get out for the smell and smoke chocked me some what. 

After taking the steering column off and realising the smoke wasn't in fact coming from there, I took the display panel (part of the dash with the speedo and fuel gauge) off a little so I could see the wires behind that.

It appears from looking at the wires one or two have melted a tad and were warm. It looks like a BROWN and RED wire has been exposed, so you can see the copper inside and it seems to possibly have or been rubbing on another wire. The BROWN and RED wire seems to go to the ignition I think

But I am not up on electrics really, and could do with some advice or help please. 8-[

I can take a photo/s in the morning if that helps.

Cheers

[L90OOK]

If you can't do it yourself I would either get a fellow MC'er who can or an auto electrician out.  Can't really be much help without taking a look at it  :?

[richo]

Trace the wires back and see if there catching some where .
Un hook the battery if i was you ,you don't want anything burning more.
I had wires rubbing and my defender is not that old.
I'm sure one of the guys on here can help a bit more mate
Good luck

[zulublue]

My RRC caught fire once when I was driving it, I look back now and laugh but at 50Mph and a 3" flame coming out of the cowling behind the steering wheel i was worried, it could make a comedy sketch with me trying to blow it out and being like one of those relighting birthday candles :->

Anyhow it was nothing serious just 2 wires had been squashed together and arked across which set the cable shield alight, I just cut them rejoined and taped up, never had another problem.

[Mark_Solesbury]

I dont mind 'lectrics

Where in northampton are you?

I can pop over tomorrow sometime and have a butchers for ya?

PM me your postcode and a phone number if you wanna hand.

[Fireyred]

Many Thanks Mark for your help and advice, owe ya one. :clap: :clap: :clap:

Hopefully got a Car Electrician coming out to quote me on the job on Monday, see what he thinks. Hoping it not gonna be too costly :doh:

Let you know the out come.

Cheers  :)

[extreme90]

oh
same happend to me a while back
that is the glow plug circuit
if you remove the thick brown and red striped wire off the ignition switch
it will start up

what engine is it ?
my glow plugs were never connected in the 1st place so i just disconnected and left like that as i never use them on my 200
when stripping the bulkhead ( as the 90 is in bits being rebuilt ) i found that the wire was fouled and created a dead short which also filled my cab up to  :shock:

look under the bonnet to see if the wire is all shrivled up to the glow plugs

hope that helps
dan

[Fireyred]

its a 2.5 TD 90

1989 F reg.

 :?

[Mark_Solesbury]

i would not start it untill its been checked on Monday....

The state of the whole loom behind the dash is suspect....

Dan - See my other post with details of what it looked like