continuing misadventures of a fuselage car

70_NPORT

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Last thanksgiving I parked it in the driveway. I got out and thought I smelled something burning. I thought to myself what could that be? I turned my head back around and saw a mind freezing sight: flames coming out of the left defog vent. Pics:
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This was the ignition source: the connector. It melted during the fire; but I think it was melting within, enough so that two wires could come into contact with each other (I have pics of that). Its funny because I think this could have been avoided (well, not really funny)...I kept hearing a noise that sounded like a turn signal relay EVERY time I turned the ignition key to start. Sometimes, the car wouldn't start...the starter motor wouldn't engage. There some other issues going on within the ignition system that were more pressing so I worked on solving them (and I did). However this one little issue would keep rearing its head. It kept this up for about two years (the weird noise) all the while I was dealing with the other stuff.
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Ouch!!! Sorry to hear. I hate electrical. Not that it can't be learned as it can just like anything else but the time it takes to learn then takes time away from engine, suspensions and body work. Just not enough time.
 
Ouch!!! Sorry to hear. I hate electrical. Not that it can't be learned as it can just like anything else but the time it takes to learn then takes time away from engine, suspensions and body work. Just not enough time.
Yeah. I wanted to cry TBM. I figured that was the last straw cause I hate dealing with electrical stuff too. It looks worse than it really is and I dealt with it.
 
So...I cut out the fried connector, and any other fried wiring...all I could find. Luckily it looks worse than it really was. All I really had to do was removed the burnt connector and replace it with another one OR just match and connect the wires together, which is what I did. If figured the connector was just that, a connector. It was connecting wires. I pulled it out, examined it real good. It was a connector.
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Unfortunately the flames from the fire cracked and destroyed the windshield....and I had to source a new one that was exactly like the old one...I didn't want quick slap in glass that didn't match what the car was born with; tinted w/double tint along the
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What happened to the left Fender btw., Looks to be in partial primer.
 
Yeah...whilst it was still in dry dock and I had the front of the motor torn down I toyed with painting the car right there where it was parked.
 
Yeah, crap happens, I had fiddled with the ammeter before without disconnecting the battery. Turned the car into Christine....... Still havent fixed all the burned wiring but slowly working on it. I guess I got lucky that it only melted some wires together. Now I add a fuse to every circuit I touch!
 
Sorry to see that Gary, must have been a panic moment. Will your insurance cover the costs to fix it.....?
I'm not sure Wil....but so far the largest cost has been the windshield. I've done everything else myself. We are trying to get reimbursed by the fire extinguisher manufacturer. The stupid thing didn't work when I tried to use it (it was still in its normal op period). The manufacturer (Kidde) has sent us a new one and asked for pics of the hold one. I'm holding my breath until I see an actual check in my hand.

Yeah, crap happens, I had fiddled with the ammeter before without disconnecting the battery. Turned the car into Christine....... Still havent fixed all the burned wiring but slowly working on it. I guess I got lucky that it only melted some wires together. Now I add a fuse to every circuit I touch!
I disconnected my ammeter or "bypassed it". I kept hearing horror stories about that and finally decided I wasn't gonna wait for it to happen to my car...cause instead its gonna happen elsewhere. ; (
 
I disconnected my ammeter or "bypassed it". I kept hearing horror stories about that and finally decided I wasn't gonna wait for it to happen to my car...cause instead its gonna happen elsewhere. ; (
Did you bypass it before or after the fire?
 
Before...way before.
That's interesting. It looks to me like the fire started at the connection for the large black wire. That would be the wire coming from the ammeter.

I'm not saying that bypassing the ammeter was the cause. I have never agreed with the theory about ammeter fires though and still don't. I am really thinking that there's been a lot written and said about the connections at the firewall and not much about the other high current connections like this one.
 
Damn it, you just reminded me again I need another fire extinguisher. Sorry about your car. Thanks for the reminder.
 
That's interesting. It looks to me like the fire started at the connection for the large black wire. That would be the wire coming from the ammeter.

I'm not saying that bypassing the ammeter was the cause. I have never agreed with the theory about ammeter fires though and still don't. I am really thinking that there's been a lot written and said about the connections at the firewall and not much about the other high current connections like this one.
Yeah I agree Big John it looks like that's where the fire started. Half of the connector was completely melted and I couldn't pull it apart. As you probably know the ammeter bypass thing is at the MAD website. I understand what they are saying (mostly) so I bypassed it and using a voltmeter now....more out of fear than anything else I suppose. and yet, it still made no difference..lol.
 
Oh, mine was my own fault, at the time, i didnt know that all the current goes through the ammeter and the studs were THAT exposed. I pulled it forward to reach behind the dash for something and grounded it. Was completely cluless about what happened until the starter started spinning. Im specialist in battery disconnecting in 3 seconds now lol.
 
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