Electrical Help !
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Edmonton AB
Electrical Help !
Last night while reinstalling my 81's hood prop arm I "accidentally" crimped the red wire going to the under hood lamp.
Immediately it sparked and some smoke came up from somewhere near the fire wall and I heard a "pop"
After a few minutes of cursing I checked to see if I still had power. Everything appeared to be OK. I looked in my shop manual for my fuse breaker panel layout. it showed that the fuse for that lamp is also used for the side marker lights. I turned them on to check and they were ok ??
Anyone out there know what I F'd up ???
Thanks !
Immediately it sparked and some smoke came up from somewhere near the fire wall and I heard a "pop"
After a few minutes of cursing I checked to see if I still had power. Everything appeared to be OK. I looked in my shop manual for my fuse breaker panel layout. it showed that the fuse for that lamp is also used for the side marker lights. I turned them on to check and they were ok ?? Anyone out there know what I F'd up ???
Thanks !
Last edited by mauiwilly; Jun 12, 2014 at 02:59 PM. Reason: spelling
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Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Monroe Washington
Could've gotten hot and melted the plastic wire casing on a wire, but not completely blown a fusible link or blown a fuse... I'd definitely try to trace it back as far as you can... The 'puff of magic electrical smoke' typically doesn't lead to good results.... Lol. Although I have seen some wires still hold some integrity after melting down the exterior coating... But typically, that'll leave an exposed hot wire to grounding out on other things later on... If that's what happened...
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From: Edmonton AB
Thanks !
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton AB
Could've gotten hot and melted the plastic wire casing on a wire, but not completely blown a fusible link or blown a fuse... I'd definitely try to trace it back as far as you can... The 'puff of magic electrical smoke' typically doesn't lead to good results.... Lol. Although I have seen some wires still hold some integrity after melting down the exterior coating... But typically, that'll leave an exposed hot wire to grounding out on other things later on... If that's what happened...
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Edmonton AB
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
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From: Edmonton AB
I never did have a bulb in there but checked with a volt meter
I'm wondering that if the wiring appears to be all intact, did the wire just heat up and burn off some some grease and grime and made the smoke ??
The wires that go done close to the firewall are greasy....
There is a "fuseable" link in the wire line as well....and it appears to be fine
Thanks for your help Fireball !
Last edited by mauiwilly; Jul 5, 2014 at 04:28 PM. Reason: additions
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From: Monroe Washington
Yea... Perhaps you came away unscathed...
The only other way I can think of to test if any wire has deteriorated would be a resistance test through the wires... But that would be quite the undertaking... And if you're not blowing fuses or having any components fail... It's hard to say whether or not it's worth investing that time...
Absolute worse case scenario; one of the wires has lost it's integrity in the bundle... Would generate excessive heat... Could eventually melt other wires... And spark/short/ flame up... But, like I said, worse case scenario...
For the most part, on mine, if it ain't broke... I look elsewhere to find/fix other things that are... Lol.
The only other way I can think of to test if any wire has deteriorated would be a resistance test through the wires... But that would be quite the undertaking... And if you're not blowing fuses or having any components fail... It's hard to say whether or not it's worth investing that time...
Absolute worse case scenario; one of the wires has lost it's integrity in the bundle... Would generate excessive heat... Could eventually melt other wires... And spark/short/ flame up... But, like I said, worse case scenario...
For the most part, on mine, if it ain't broke... I look elsewhere to find/fix other things that are... Lol.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
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From: Edmonton AB
Yea... Perhaps you came away unscathed...
The only other way I can think of to test if any wire has deteriorated would be a resistance test through the wires... But that would be quite the undertaking... And if you're not blowing fuses or having any components fail... It's hard to say whether or not it's worth investing that time...
Absolute worse case scenario; one of the wires has lost it's integrity in the bundle... Would generate excessive heat... Could eventually melt other wires... And spark/short/ flame up... But, like I said, worse case scenario...
For the most part, on mine, if it ain't broke... I look elsewhere to find/fix other things that are... Lol.
The only other way I can think of to test if any wire has deteriorated would be a resistance test through the wires... But that would be quite the undertaking... And if you're not blowing fuses or having any components fail... It's hard to say whether or not it's worth investing that time...
Absolute worse case scenario; one of the wires has lost it's integrity in the bundle... Would generate excessive heat... Could eventually melt other wires... And spark/short/ flame up... But, like I said, worse case scenario...
For the most part, on mine, if it ain't broke... I look elsewhere to find/fix other things that are... Lol.
And I have done all I can so I'm going to stop worrying about it.....for now...lol Everything is working and fuses aren't blowing....
I did however go out and buy a fire extinguisher that I put in the car....just in case !!!
Thanks again !