What went wrong, fire Options

[914itis]

I decided to install my hangman fuse panel. after installing i started the car, turn on
the head lights - works
flashers- works
turn signals- works
decided to turn on the wipers works, then the engine cuts off followed by a spark on the fuse area. within seconds the wires was on fire. I safely put out the fire.

I then removed the fuse box, to notice that the big red wire was burning, that wire was attached to a brown piece that looks like a breaker. it cracks ast it burns out.

My question is what is that brown peice is used for that has the brown wires attached on one side and the big red one on the other end.. I know that the brown wires are ground.

now that peice is gone what do I do..?
A good portion of the red wire is melted. and I will be inspecting the rest of the wires for burnt.


help!

[SirAndy]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thisthreadisworthlesswithoutpics.gif)


I'm guessing it's one of the relays but it's hard to tell without pictures ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[914itis]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thisthreadisworthlesswithoutpics.gif)


I'm guessing it's one of the relays but it's hard to tell without pictures ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

its not a relay, it is screwed on top of the speaker on the chasis anhd the big red battery wire is attached to it. a set of atleast 5 brown wires are also attached the othe end of it.

I can't even take a picture, its burned .

[SirAndy]

its not a relay, it is screwed on top of the speaker on the chasis anhd the big red battery wire is attached to it. a set of atleast 5 brown wires are also attached the othe end of it.

That does not sound stock ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[914itis]

its not a relay, it is screwed on top of the speaker on the chasis anhd the big red battery wire is attached to it. a set of atleast 5 brown wires are also attached the othe end of it.

That does not sound stock ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

it looks stock. what is the red + wire comming from the battery connected to on a 70?

will try to take a picture shortly

[tomeric914]

It sounds like they are describing the group of brown ground wires bolted to the chassis just to the left of the fuse block.

[914itis]

It sounds like they are describing the group of brown ground wires bolted to the chassis just to the left of the fuse block.

correct, then the red wire is attached on top of it.

[76-914]

it sounds like the ground wires from the door switch but there aren't 5 of them in thar location IIRC. maybe the ground wire group from the courtesy light area was rerouted back that way for some reason. ??

[montoya 73 2.0]

I dont think a big red wire is supposed to be grounded. Something isnt right with that. Definently not stock. You need to trace that wire.

[914itis]

I dont think a big red wire is supposed to be grounded. Something isnt right with that. Definently not stock. You need to trace that wire.

Correction!

I went back to look, it is actualy where about 3 to 4 thick red wire are joinned togetter. one to the battery, one to the fuse box and I am not sure where the other 1 or 2 goes. the brown peice that melted is probably a piece that isolates them from the metal.

[914itis]

the wire shown on picture # 2 was attached to the pointing arrow on pic # 1.

[larss]

the wire shown on picture # 2 was attached to the pointing arrow on pic # 1.

Thats the stock positive (+) front feeding point that has been melted. Yes it is fed by a red wire from the battery and the voltage is dstributed from this point to the fuse panel etc.
Ive just assembled this on my -72 and it looks the same (but not melted).
I can see two reasons for overheating and melting this "bakelite" sort of terminal: a bad connection (at heavy load, main lights on etc) or a short to ground (-).

/lars s

[914itis]

the wire shown on picture # 2 was attached to the pointing arrow on pic # 1.

Thats the stock positive (+) front feeding point that has been melted. Yes it is fed by a red wire from the battery and the voltage is dstributed from this point to the fuse panel etc.
Ive just assembled this on my -72 and it looks the same (but not melted).
I can see two reasons for overheating and melting this "bakelite" sort of terminal: a bad connection (at heavy load, main lights on etc) or a short to ground (-).

/lars s

T think it was reason # 2, . i guest I can just pickup a junktion box from the local FLAPS and replace the wire.

[larss]

The bakelite thing seems to be available at Autoatlanta part no 928 612 867 00, appearantly it fits several Porsche types.


/Lars S

[914itis]

thanks ... is there some special function to it, or just a junction box that I can use any box with the prpoer strengh?

[larss]

No special function other than a good electrical insulator with good mechanical strength. The shape however is a bit special to fit in that tiny space...


/Lars S

[914itis]

No special function other than a good electrical insulator with good mechanical strength. The shape however is a bit special to fit in that tiny space...


/Lars S

thamks

[Tom]

I didn't see anyone mention this, so I thought I would. You said you just installed the fuse panel upgrade? Maybe one of the wires got caught between ground and the fuse panel during reinstallation? Check the red wires for marks to see if one has a dent in it where the insulation has been crushed. This would have taken your + to ground and that is unfused at that point. Hope everything turns out OK. I put the J-West one in my 76 and the fog light flasher at the same time. It seemed to be too tight when I pushed the fuse panel back up, so I made a couple of spacers to lower the fuse panel a 1/4 inch so I didn't have too much pressure on the wires. Just needed slightly longer screws after that to hold the panel up. It has been fine for 3-4 years.
Tom

[tradisrad]

for what it is worth my '70 has the same "power" block above the drivers speaker. I dont really like having the wires exposed like that as it would not take much to short it out.
Sorry to see the mess that you've got. Maybe you can coat the wires with liquid electrical tape instead of trying to replace everything.

[VaccaRabite]

Sorry to see the mess that you've got. Maybe you can coat the wires with liquid electrical tape instead of trying to replace everything.

IMHO this is not good advice. you need to chase the wire to see how far back the damage goes, and you need to replace the wires. This may take longer, but you will get two things out of it.

1) if you incorrectly wired the fuse panel and that contributed to the short, you will find it more easily if you are chasing and isolating the damaged wire.

2) You want to replace the wire that was damaged. 30+ year old wire can get brittle anyway, why take a further gamble and reuse the damaged stock.

This is just how I would go about it, and it would take longer to do. You may be able to go about it the other way and be perfectly fine. I am a worrier, so I replace.

Zach