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Re: Electrical woes & possible new car



In my case, the dimmer switch was pretty obviously toasted -- melted into a solid mass, actually -- and about half of the wires in the bundle over the steering column were damaged.  If your switch looks ok, hopefully it means that you also won't have the rest of the damage I had! 

On Mon, 21 May 2001, "Ewan Hopkins" wrote:

> 
> 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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> > >
> > > --
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> >
> >--
> >'87 16V
> >
> >--
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> >
> 
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