Re: Electrical woes & possible new car

["Ewan Hopkins" <ewanhopkins@hotmail.com>]

Welcome to the list Grace and thanks to you & your husband for the info - 
pretty much confirms my current thoughts on the cause of the problem. The 
switch/dimmer LOOKS ok so, assuming it meters out ok, I'm hoping I'll just 
need to replace/bypass the burnt wire(s). I disconnected the dimmer wire 
earlier so at least I can use the lights in the meantime. I have taken 
tomorrow off to replace my shocks & a multitude of other things but 
hopefully I can get the short traced and fixed as well.

Thanks again,

Ewan.


>From: Grace Huntzinger <scirocco@sinbadco.com>
>To: ewanhopkins@hotmail.com
>CC: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
>Subject: Re: Electrical woes & possible new car
>Date: 21 May 2001 10:29:51 -0700
>
>I am new to the list, and this seemed like a good opportunity to introduce 
>myself.
>
>I had a similar incident with my 87 16V when it was few months old.  My 
>husband installed a stereo amp that he gave me for my birthday, and the 
>next time I turned the lights on, smoke started pouring out of the dash.
>
>I didn't recall all of the details, but asked my husband if he did -- 
>here's his response.  I never bothered to replace the dimmer switch; don't 
>even miss it at this point.
>
>Grace
>--
>
>The wiring has a design flaw - the dimmer output is fused off the large 
>fuses for the headlights even though small wire is used to the panel lights 
>and the radio panel light.  It is a fire hazzard as designed because if a 
>short on any of the panel illumination wiring occurs it will fry something, 
>especially when the dimming is set low.
>
>If the dimmer is toasted you can bypass it by connecting the wires at the 
>dimmer plug (no dimming function), and it is best to add an in-line fuse to 
>the wire before it gets distributed.
>
>Had a similar underdash fire in an 87 16V, burned out the wire to the radio 
>and melted the insulation on a bunch of wires in the bundle over the 
>steering column.  It actually happened because I put in a stereo amp 
>powered off the illumination wire thinking it was power to the radio, which 
>worked fine until it got dark and the lights were turned on.  The extra 
>current of the panel fried the wires and the dimmer control (OOPS!).  I cut 
>the melted wires and slipped sleeving over the burned areas, and spliced in 
>new pieces on the ones that were fried.  And I added a 5 amp inline fuse so 
>it can't happen again (and connected the stereo amp to a better spot).
>
>On Mon, 21 May 2001, "Ewan Hopkins" wrote:
>
> >
> > Had an interesting experience last night - driving on the motorway 
>around
> > 8-30pm, switched on the side-lights and hey presto, a couple of seconds
> > later mega-smoke coming from the dash - if you've seen the cheech & 
>chong
> > film where they're smoking joints in an old beetle, I think, you'll get 
>the
> > drift... Switched the lights off pronto and pulled over.    Pulled the
> > switch and one of the wires was toast. When I got home & checked the 
>book,
> > it turned-out to be the dimmer switch output. Haven't dared look under 
>the
> > dash yet but nothing else seems to be affected - think I'll take a day 
>off
> > tomorrow to inspect the damage!!!
> > Anyone know offhand if the wiring for the dash lighting goes anywhere 
>near
> > the main loom? I'm hoping not.
> > On a happier note, met someone at the weekend selling a (paprika?) red 
>'87
> > GT for £100. Had a quick look as I drove past it - looks pretty clean 
>except
> > for the beginnings of the dreaded door handle rot on the pass. door.  
>Good
> > set of euro lights & bumpers - I think I'll take a closer look.
> >
> > TIA,
> >
> >
> > Ewan Hopkins...
> >
> > '85 Storm 2.0
> > '86 GT 1.8
> >
> > 
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>--
>'87 16V
>
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