help, mice chewed the wiring
10-19-2018, 12:10 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
help, mice chewed the wiring
I looked at a 1990 convertible today that has an "electrical issue" Mice chewed the wiring harness and plug wires. When the owners started it it started a small fire or at least melted alot of the wiring harness and distributor. It doesnt look like it needs a complete harness change but whatever is between the distributor and firewall is toast as well as wiring running on top of the bell housing back under the interior and the transmission.
Stupid question but what else should I be looking for? How much of a job will it be to replace these? Parts online look reasonable, less than $1,000. But what else?
Stupid question but what else should I be looking for? How much of a job will it be to replace these? Parts online look reasonable, less than $1,000. But what else?
10-19-2018, 01:14 PM
#2
First what caught fire and why?
What condition was this car in?
The parts you mention are just standard sbc dizzy and wires.
How long since the car has been driven regularly?
after answering some of these questions and the more details you give overall the better.
There are fuel issues and other things that happen form the older c4's in general, that you might want to look at while tuning it up.
What condition was this car in?
The parts you mention are just standard sbc dizzy and wires.
How long since the car has been driven regularly?
after answering some of these questions and the more details you give overall the better.
There are fuel issues and other things that happen form the older c4's in general, that you might want to look at while tuning it up.
10-19-2018, 01:49 PM
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
The only issue issue I can see and smell now is the wiring. There is no power so nothing comes on when you turn the key. Not sure how extensive the melting got into say the dash, etc.
What I can see in the engine bay as far as melting or fire is only around the distributor and the wiring around it within say 6 to 9 inches. Everything else looked fine and intact. The spark plug wires were not melted though, just chewed.
Unfortunately because it has no electrical it wont start or run so I dont know the rest of the condition or damages. I have no idea if it would have or could have fried the instrument cluster or any electronics in the transmission (automatic). I am told that the car has only 45,000 miles on it. Based upon the body, interior, etc, I dont see anything that makes me question the mileage.
The car sat for about 3 years in storage and the family finally took it out to sell it, went to start it and all hell broke lose. They had done nothing to prep it for storage. This happened either last spring or year ago last spring, not sure.
Other than the electrical, this car is in excellent shape for a car 28 years old. Just trying to wrap my head and wallet around what I could be in store for.
What I can see in the engine bay as far as melting or fire is only around the distributor and the wiring around it within say 6 to 9 inches. Everything else looked fine and intact. The spark plug wires were not melted though, just chewed.
Unfortunately because it has no electrical it wont start or run so I dont know the rest of the condition or damages. I have no idea if it would have or could have fried the instrument cluster or any electronics in the transmission (automatic). I am told that the car has only 45,000 miles on it. Based upon the body, interior, etc, I dont see anything that makes me question the mileage.
The car sat for about 3 years in storage and the family finally took it out to sell it, went to start it and all hell broke lose. They had done nothing to prep it for storage. This happened either last spring or year ago last spring, not sure.
Other than the electrical, this car is in excellent shape for a car 28 years old. Just trying to wrap my head and wallet around what I could be in store for.
10-19-2018, 02:05 PM
#4
You won't know how bad the damage is until you start tearing into it. Make sure you factor into the price that nothing works and that you don't know if it will work without repairs.
If it was cheap enough, I would plan on replacing the dash harness and engine harness. Mice are evil when it comes to wire insulation.
If it was cheap enough, I would plan on replacing the dash harness and engine harness. Mice are evil when it comes to wire insulation.
10-19-2018, 04:40 PM
#8
Instructor
Thread Starter
dont know what caught fire, they family thought it was the wiring but i guess it could have been a mouse next. I found a small nest in the center console so I guess there could have been the same thing in the engine compartment.
I agree, it has to be a deal in order for it to work for me. I offered them $3,000 and now I am wondering if offered too much. They do think its worth a lot, told me that they thought it would be worth about $9,000 when fixed so they "priced it accordingly" at $6,000. I got the impression that my offer was their first one.
I agree, it has to be a deal in order for it to work for me. I offered them $3,000 and now I am wondering if offered too much. They do think its worth a lot, told me that they thought it would be worth about $9,000 when fixed so they "priced it accordingly" at $6,000. I got the impression that my offer was their first one.
10-19-2018, 05:32 PM
#9
They should be thanking you for 3k.
10-19-2018, 06:59 PM
#11
Pro
I think I would look for another one. You can find one for not too much more money that is running. This one could turn into a real nightmare.
10-20-2018, 08:34 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: South-central Missouri
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Electrical fire aftermath.... Like others have said, I'd be strongly skewed toward walking away...UNLESS(!) the car has something unique that makes it worth spending the time/money to have it fixed. Lots of cars w/o electrical fire damage out there for sale; damage which could easily exceed the $3k purchase price!
However, if you decide to buy it as a project, i.e., something to fiddle with and learn from as time allows, I can tell ya there is no better way to get familiar with a car than a methodical restoration project.
To those that challenge you as not being practical...well, I chalked my (several) resto projects up to cost of education.
However, if you decide to buy it as a project, i.e., something to fiddle with and learn from as time allows, I can tell ya there is no better way to get familiar with a car than a methodical restoration project.
To those that challenge you as not being practical...well, I chalked my (several) resto projects up to cost of education.