7 replies to this topic

[Classicmini63]

Drove about 20 minutes (smelt burning rubber now and again but assumed it was cars in front) pulled up and the fuse box was smoking white smoke. Immediately ripped the battery off and checked every fuse. Nothing wrong with any of them. Put battery back on and it struggled to start as if the battery were dead and then tried to start up. I tried a second time but this time with throttle and it fired up. No smoke from the fuse box. Suggestions on getting home? Or what it could be?

[CityEPete]

Possibly the ballast ignition wire?

[sledgehammer]

as above , or fuse box corrosion

 

first Isolate battery remove  fusebox ,

 

look at the back for scorching / melted plastic

If it all looks good , then I would carefully split the loom  on the off side wing & look for melted wires

 

pink & white is the ballast wire - prone to corrode crack & get hot then fail

 

also worth checking the main red battery cable under the car , check it is in good condition
 

and hasn't rubbed on the sub-frame , or any other bits of metal under there

 

also check earth cables are good & well connected & choke throttle cable aren't getting hot 

 

best of luck - hope it is a cheap fault

Edited by sledgehammer, 22 September 2018 - 05:36 PM.

[Classicmini63]

Had the fuse box off, seems as though the wire for the fan was rubbing on the body. Hasn’t gone through buts it’s visible it’s been rubbing as the paint has worn off the body and the wire has markings but like i say not gone through. As for the not starting properly issue I think that was a result of me not tightening the battery negative connection properly as I left it slack in case of any more smoke.

Started it up again and fired straight up no smoke. It’s an MPI by the way if that helps anyone to disect the problem if it happens again on the way home... but hopefully that was the issue.

Cheers

[CityEPete]

This is the fuse box by your leg then? I'm not too clued up on the later ones even though I've owned some!

[Classicmini63]

Yep, that’s the one! Right by the leg (welp!) hands were shaking to say the least. Drove it home last night after I’d sorted the rubbing wire and still had a smell of burning rubber now and again (not as bad as when I drove it over) no smoke but still concerned what’s going on. Going to have it all apart in the daylight today and check all the wires.

[gazza82]

Sounds like one live wire has chafed through to earth or two contacts are touching that shouldn't and overheating

[CityEPete]

I'd check every fuse is rated as per the layout for a start, someone could stick a 35amp in where it shouldn't be for example.

Pull each fuse and look for a 'witness mark' on the fuse or carrier, that should help you start looking in the right direction.

Good luck.