Shocking Handbrake

[redhand]

A friends disco had an electrical fire in his engine bay last week. and fried all the wiring going to the gearbox/handbrake area. I chopped all the burnt wires and replaced the damaged section with the wiring harness from another disco that was getting scrapped. He also had a problem with the starter solenoid not getting a live supply so it wouldn't turn over. I took a feed off the ignition live and wired it direct to the solenoid. So that it's only live whilst cranking the engine over. And it's been fine all week But over the last couple of days it's started playing up and not turning over. Then today he saw smoke coming from the Handbrake lever. and he's just discovered that the handbrake drum is live. I've heard of this happening before but can't remember where or what caused it. Any ideas???

[mobi]

check the earths on the engine to chassis

[redhand]

check the earths on the engine to chassis

Yes just txt'd him and told him to try that.

[paulnb57]

x2 check the earth to the engine - My guess is the handbrake is not live, but the earth to the engine is u/s and the engine is earthing through the handbrake cable and not coping hence the fire/smoke....
Paul

[redhand]

x2 check the earth to the engine - My guess is the handbrake is not live, but the earth to the engine is u/s and the engine is earthing through the handbrake cable and not coping hence the fire/smoke....
Paul

Have told him to fit a new earth cable from block to chassis and to make sure the contact points are cleaned of all rust grease etc. Hopefully that'll cure it.

[Range Rover Blues]

Mine has 3 earths, one at the starter, one at the alternator and one near the dizzy.

You'd think the handbrake would be insulated though wouldn't you :-.