Car has spark! My suby setup, Now just dbl checking all wires to be sure load are good before running Options

[Subietech]

I'd like to clear things up a bit…..I can say without a doubt that there has NOT been any smoke or fire since I've been working on it.

I removed the stereo and accessories ports to be sure that they were not drawing a load. Now its just the cars main harness and ECU..

The Battery is grounded correctly, The ECU is grounded directly to the battery and the fuel pump is grounded. I've even replace the transmission to chassis ground

The fire was centered around the battery and I feel like it was caused by a cable rubbing on the oversized battery tie down and shorting out. That sent the heat up to the ECU via a horribly routed wire harness and down to the firewall where the main harness exits the cabin. It was all one big melted mess of wires. Everything has been cleaned up and patched properly.

My next step is to replace the ignition, check the main Yellow wire for anything that looks suspect and ad a 30amp fuse to both the fuel pump and the starter and of course, continue to look for a bad ground while Im in the dash.

Mike

[timothy_nd28]

I'm with Tom on this one. There seems to be a underline issue here which needs to be gone through by a experienced electrician.

[76-914]

Tom makes the point again. You need ohmic values to aid in making a decision. Question for Subietech: How many grounds were added to his set up and where are they located. I'm sure that you know what I'm going to say in that you work on the Vanagon conversions. I ran lots of extra grounds for 2 reasons. #1- I'm not the smartest guy on the block and I knew grounds were important on modern vehicles so I'm sure I did an overkill on grounds. #2- I chained my grounds per TOM's suggestion. Although I consider Kugel one of the alleged "rust free" 914's (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) I "know" what the metal looks like at the seams and spot welds so I couldn't trust one body panel to properly transfer the ground to another body panel. Sounds like he had 2 problems. The short at the batt cable makes sense. And the ign switch appears to be another problem but a problem indeed! Hope you can stick around on this board. We can use a REAL Suby mechanic on this Porsche forum. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

[JRust]

I feel good about Mike at Subietech. He is no stranger to electrical & wiring. I posted a thread to help get ideas for where to look as he is new to 914's. We've got a few days with xmas where it will be sitting until he is back to work on it. Just making sure we attack it the right way.

I'm not looking to cut any corners here. I want it done right which is why I took I to Mike to begin with. I fully admit I am no great shakes as a wrench. I can pull things apart & put them back together. Troubleshooting is not my strong suit. Especially when it comes to electrical. Which is why I am asking to begin with. Not only to make sure we get to the problem. But also to get a better understanding of it. Doesn't do me much good to have something fixed & have no clue how it was done. Anytime I have work done I come away with a better understanding of my car. I've been playing with 914's for years. While there are still things over my head. I get a little better every year thanks to the forums. Being able to throw problems at other members here is what makes this place great.

[Subietech]

I'm no stranger to grounding! I sale in house custom made grounding kits for subaru's. I like direct from the battery to the fender, alt, intake manifold , strut tower and of course the starter. No daisy chain.

Originally, when Jamie brought me the car, the main ground from the battery was to the transmission near the axle (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)! Normally on a Subaru, the main ground from the battery is to the tab on the upper main bolt for the trans-motor-starter so I moved it there. I then added a ground from under the trunk to the transmission case (as Subaru does trans to firewall). The direct ground from the battery to the chassis is good. I didn't feel the need to go nuts adding other grounds just yet but I may very well add a few before I'm done.

I haven't had a chance to put a ohms meter on it yet (I'm currently in route to LA) but will once I get back to Bend.

[r_towle]

Factory ground post is on the inner rear fender, right next to the ground post of the battery.
Bend way over and look up high, its hard to see and way under the rain cover.

From there, the factory ground strap is bolted to the bottom of the rear trunk directly above the rear of the transmission, so it bolts to one of the rear tranny cover bolts.

That gets you your body ground and engine ground.

Everything on the car, with the exception of the starter, is grounded off the chassis.
There are dedicated grounds for most circuits.

Rich

[JRust]

Where we are at today. Mike found my headlight relay was fried. The white wire with blue stripe I think feeds that. With my aftermarket gauges there is a fair amount of wiring up there under the dash. Since there is a fair amount of new wiring & the aftermarket Engman panel. There is some wiring that doesn't exactly match the 914 diagram. We are 95% sure it is good to go. Before trying to start the car. I'm taking it to another shop to be sure. Mike's put a lot of time into it & wants to be sure too.

So first of next week it is off to get the wiring checked at a new shop. Hopefully it will be a real quick turn around there. If they can actually get on it right away. I may have it back next weekend. LOL! I'm not holding my breath though. I'm content to wait until it is perfect (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilgrin.gif)

[ConeDodger]

I'm sorry Jamie. You are not allowed to have spark. That car is too nice for us to allow you to have spark. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[JRust]

I'm sorry Jamie. You are not allowed to have spark. That car is too nice for us to allow you to have spark. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) Good one Rob. I completely agree. One good spark was more than enough for me for a lifetime.

[904svo]

On my conversion I took the ign wire ( power lead to the coil) and wired it up to
new power relays to feed the ECU, fuel pump power which takes the load off the ign
switch. I also added a power relay to the starter circuit. These changes will remove
the large current drain which the ECU,fuel pump require from the ign switch.

[Mike Bellis]

Send it to McMark's and I will come up and fix it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Or he can fix it and I'll drink beer... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[mgp4591]

Just don't have ANYTHING flammable nearby! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[76-914]

On my conversion I took the ign wire ( power lead to the coil) and wired it up to
new power relays to feed the ECU, fuel pump power which takes the load off the ign
switch. I also added a power relay to the starter circuit. These changes will remove
the large current drain which the ECU,fuel pump require from the ign switch.

Same here. I believe "that power lead" is #9 blk. In fact, you, Mike B., Tom, Spoke (who is cheaper than I (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) ) and a few others, "held my hand" as I wired mine up. Can't thank you guy's enough for your experienced views and tips. Also, you can't have too many relays or grounds on the 914's meager wiring system. Did Dean install the "power relay" from the original Suby wiring system?

[ConeDodger]

I'm sorry Jamie. You are not allowed to have spark. That car is too nice for us to allow you to have spark. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) Good one Rob. I completely agree. One good spark was more than enough for me for a lifetime.

Why are you laughing? I'm serious... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[McMark]

IMHO, there's only one way to solve this problem.

Document the whole harness and reevaluate all the design decisions. you may find other things that need addressing.