Engine electrics

[tabraqat]

Hi guys
I have an 1991 registered (UK) 80 modified, w. snorkel, lights, LRFTs, bull bar, spare wheel carrier, bashplate, roofrack etc and was just wondering whether any of you who have a diesel 80 of approx the same year has ever experienced electrical faults/potential fire under the bonnet?
This happened in Nov 2003, and so far all is okay, but I was just thinking, whether it is a rare phenomenon or more common place? I have never heard of 80s having this problem before, so this is just a query - Dan you might be able to maybe explain the circuitry a bit to me - I don't think it will happen again, I have the spec diags for electrical circuitry but I haven't so far been able to identify what caused it. I guess it was a fault with solenoid or starter motor, something along this line.
Tabraqat

 

[Gold Finger]

Tab it is not unusual for a solenoid in any vehicle to jam in either the on or the off position. It is safer if it jams in the off position, but if it jams in the on position the starter is engaged and consuming a tremendous amount of power which generates heat, it gets hotter and hotter until either something melts or in your case causes a fire. The solenoid on my tractor jammed with the starter engaged and because of the noise that tractors make I was un aware until I got off again to investigate the burning smell. It was very hot and just about to set on fire. As I was away from water at the time which is unusual in Wales I had to piss on it to extinguish it, which could have caused a problem or two but it worked unfortunately I had to rebuild the starter as it had burned out.

 

[tabraqat]

I'd rather it had jambed on the off position, but no, it had to do the whole hog - it took 4-5 minutes after switch-off, for the whole thing to stop, and I was very surprised the whole thing didn't explode in front of me. I'd called out the fire brigade, they saw me but couldn't get to me, so I guess I was very lucky...Its something that I'd never heard of before, with regard to 80s toyos.
Tabraqat

 

[e9999]

leave it to the Brits to piss on their engines...
Hope you had some Guiness before at least, for the starter's sake...