200tdi loom on fire

brilliant,
So after venturing out to pick up a bulkhead today and happily travelling 80 miles without issue all over a sudden the car cuts out and smoke starts billowing through the bulkhead
'Bugger it's gonna go up in flames' was my first thought.

Luckily it didn't but at least one of the wires in the centre main part of the loom behind the stereo was glowing orange and as such many wires have melted.
Car won't start and smokes and glows when you try.

Is this common?
What could be the cause? I have done 500 miles without issues and the wires don't look new so I suspect have done 1000's of miles without issue.

Not really had chance to look but just looking on pointers on where to start.

Guessing I will need a 200tdi loom also if anyone has one.

Any advice on things to check etc is appreciated

I had a similar issue with my 19J-powered 90. The insulation on one of the brown wires had degraded, and it at some point short-circuited, with large amounts of smoke resulting from the oil-soaked soundproofing on the bulkhead.

I replaced the wiring loom myself. Take the old loom out and use this as a guide to get the wire lengths right, and with a bit of patience, the right colours of wire, a few crimp terminals and wiring loom tape, you can make up a replacement for not a lot of money.

A battery cut out on the battery terminal is a good thing to have on an old vehicle,fitted one on mine last year after a bit of a meltdown.Trying to undo a batt terminal with a spanner as the cab fills with smoke is just about impossible,saved by the fire extinguisher.

tottot said:

A battery cut out on the battery terminal is a good thing to have on an old vehicle,fitted one on mine last year after a bit of a meltdown.Trying to undo a batt terminal with a spanner as the cab fills with smoke is just about impossible,saved by the fire extinguisher.

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Yeah I fitted one for that exact reason to

Hmm didn't think of that. I haven't disconnected battery so it could be on fire as I speak

ashleywood.ash said:

Hmm didn't think of that. I haven't disconnected battery so it could be on fire as I speak

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Best check lol

I would but I'm at work