Not a nice moment

[brooklands green]

Decided today to clean inside hoover etc after 4 months off road, replacing front footwell carpets heard a strange crackling noise followed by smoke from inside and engine bay, slight panic managed to disconnected battery in time after investigating found a supply wire direct from plus side of battery going through bulkhead had over time worn through insulation the wire was a dead end, hoping somthing in the past has been removed but forgot to remove supply, and to be honest a bit more than slight panic i thought the worst i messed myself

Glyn

[jleyton]

Glad to hear you appear to have saved it all in time Glyn Quite understand the panic

It's always one of those unnerving things - not knowing what a PO has done. I removed all unknown wiring on my car shortly after I got it and even a few things that I felt were unneccessary Eg Seat belt warning wiring and light / rear fogs etc.

I'm a big believer in KIS - Keep It Simple.

Cheers

Julian

[brooklands green]

Thanks Julian good advise it certainly makes you more aware of any job you do on these cars after 18 months I'm still learning. Look forward to the 14th

Glyn

[Motorcycle mad]

Hi Glyn
Glad to hear no damage was done to your car, maybe you should consider fitting a fused battery isolating switch, I have one fitted to my car and always park it in the garage with the switch turned off, the fuse link keeps power to clock, alarm and radio etc.
In the event of an emergency it is easy to turn it off safe guarding the car.

Ken
DSCN3101.jpg

[wilf]

Yup, I have one of those too, called a "Dis-carnect", on eBay for under a tenner. I remove the link every time I put Buttercup away in the garage.

[milothedog]

Decided today to clean inside hoover etc after 4 months off road, replacing front footwell carpets heard a strange crackling noise followed by smoke from inside and engine bay, slight panic managed to disconnected battery in time after investigating found a supply wire direct from plus side of battery going through bulkhead had over time worn through insulation the wire was a dead end, hoping somthing in the past has been removed but forgot to remove supply, and to be honest a bit more than slight panic i thought the worst i messed myself

Glyn

Glad to hear no harm was done Glyn, just in case here is a picture of something you may now need to replace what you lost

smoke.jpg

Ian

[brooklands green]

Many thanks gents will certainly look into the isolating switch, as for the jar Ian a few cold tins of guinness done the trick.

Glyn

[jleyton]

Hi Glyn,

If you can hang on until the 14th, I can show you a Discarnect fitted to my car.

I'd thoroughly recommend one and they're not too expensive.

Look forward to seeing you.

Cheers

Julian

[SaskStag]

Got one of those battery isolaters in the picture above. Can somebody sens a pic of how it attaches? My simpleton mind cannot get it to fit.

Ian: Love it!

Tanya

[wilf]

Tanya - it clamps to the battery post in place of a lead, then the displaced battery lead clamps to the discarnect unit itself. I have mine in the -ve line and there is just enough space if you angle it just so to avoid the fan.

[jleyton]

Hi Tanya,

To add pictures to Wilf's words:

Cheers

Julian

Ps I hadn't noticed how scruffy my underbonnet is looking

DSCN2415.jpg

[SaskStag]

Ok, many thanks. I'll try the negative side, was looking at the positive.
T

[SaskStag]

The negative electrode looked seized on and was difficult to undo, nevertheless, spurred on by your words and a little help from Mr Hammer, the negative electrode came away and the dis-carnect is now in place as per Julian's photos.
Thanks for you help Julian and Wilf
Tanya

[wilf]

Now all you have to do is remember to disconnect it when the car isn't being used. You don't need to completely remove the knurled knob to do that, and if you do, remember where you left it!