Heya guys just got back from a friends...... hes got a 1986 90 original engine. The problem is when he went to start it earlier he turned the key and all the dash lights etc lit up but nothing happened at the starter and he got smoke comeing out the dash. we have since had it all apart and theres nithing rong with the motor it runs if you bridge the live from the back of the motor to the solenoid. the cable on the spade connector o the senoid is dead no voltage wen key is turned so im guesing thays why that wont work.... cant find any breaks in the circuit and the no fuses are blown although further investigation is required..... my main confusion is the smoke, we took the instrument panel thing off as much as possible and the smoke was coming from the two largest cables from the ignition barrel right from the connectors also the loom in the engine compartment gets warm and the glow plug connectors get hot and smoke.... any ideas anybody?

Cheers for any help people thanks

check glow plug circuit for shorts ,replace ignition switch ,glow plug circuit may be the cause or a result of switch fusing

Cheers mate.. your fairly sure its a short in the ignition then, hoe would i go about testing that?