Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Fried wires

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Fried wires

    So I pulled and reinstalled my gauge cluster last weekend. After doing so I noticed a clicking feeling in the steering wheel when turning. While investigating it tonight I noticed the headlights would dim if I turned the wheel right. It would only dim at certain spots. Stupidly, I held it at one of the spots and smoke started pouring out of the steering column. The brown wires in the column seemed to have been fried. Anyone know why this would happen? Everything in the gauge cluster worked fine.
    Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByTapatalk1414981781.984971.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	54.7 KB
ID:	7241367Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByTapatalk1414981799.838749.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	46.1 KB
ID:	7241368https://vimeo.com/110742673

    #2
    The car is a 1984 325e

    Comment


      #3
      Did you replace the cluster fuse with a bigger one by mistake?

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by E30NJ View Post
        Did you replace the cluster fuse with a bigger one by mistake?

        No, I ended up not doing anything to the cluster.

        Comment


          #5
          The fuse box has incorrect sized fuses.
          Owner - Bavarian Restoration
          BMW and European Electronics Repair and Restoration
          www.BavRest.com
          My Feedback Thread
          Our Facebook!
          Follow our Instagram!

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by Gregs///M View Post
            The fuse box has incorrect sized fuses.

            Thanks, I'll check the fuses. I've only had the car a month so that's probably it. The fuel filter was in backwards so it's a real possibility.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Gregs///M View Post
              The fuse box has incorrect sized fuses.

              I checked the fuses and they're all good. Basically the turn signal eliminator switch is shorting out on something when it's triggered while turning the wheel right. I don't see any tangled wires or anything else out of the ordinary in the column.

              Comment


                #8
                I had a similar thing happen with the wiring for the washer jet heaters - the fried wires were causing a bunch of issues. I just disconnected everything. I have a complete set of spare wires, but I've gone both winters without with no problems. Don't feel like going through the hassle if I don't need them. LOL
                Estoguy
                1986 BMW 325, Alpenweiss ~ "Elsa"

                Need a photographer, come visit my site: http://estoguy.wix.com/unique-perspectives

                Comment


                  #9
                  OP did you figure out what caused the clicking in the steering column? My car just started doing this.


                  1992 M tech 2 Convertible - S50 Swap
                  1992 e34 Touring- S50 Swap
                  1992 325i-S50 Swap (SOLD)

                  1995 e36 M3 Mugello Red - S50 (SOLD)
                  1991 325i Convertible Laguna Green (SOLD)
                  1987 325i (SOLD);1992 M tech 2 Convertible (SOLD)
                  1988 325i Convertible Alpine White (SOLD)
                  1991
                  Brilliantrot Convertible 80k Miles (SOLD)
                  1992 325i Convertible Schwarz (SOLD)
                  1992 318i Convertible Project-Finished (SOLD)

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by KIRIEIW View Post
                    OP did you figure out what caused the clicking in the steering column? My car just started doing this.

                    I think the clicking I'm feeling was the electricity jolting through the column. I still can't figure out why it's shorting out. If you're not burning up wires, clicking would indicate your clock spring is on its way out.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Skychismo View Post
                      I checked the fuses and they're all good. Basically the turn signal eliminator switch is shorting out on something when it's triggered while turning the wheel right. I don't see any tangled wires or anything else out of the ordinary in the column.
                      Im not saying to check if the fuses are good, im saying the wrong size fuses are installed.

                      If the electrical fuse panel was like OEM, the fuse would have blown and not fried the wires. In your case, someone put a larger amperage rating fuse for that circuit and now the wiring itself is the fuse, not the actual fuse.
                      Owner - Bavarian Restoration
                      BMW and European Electronics Repair and Restoration
                      www.BavRest.com
                      My Feedback Thread
                      Our Facebook!
                      Follow our Instagram!

                      Comment


                        #12


                        Last edited by Steve Corbett; 11-05-2014, 02:38 PM. Reason: correct photo links
                        sigpic
                        Steve Corbett
                        1983 528E Scrapped
                        1983 528E Sold
                        1984 745I
                        1984 325E - Sold
                        1989 325I Bronzit-Sold
                        1989 325I Zinno
                        1988 635CSI

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Gregs///M View Post
                          Im not saying to check if the fuses are good, im saying the wrong size fuses are installed.



                          If the electrical fuse panel was like OEM, the fuse would have blown and not fried the wires. In your case, someone put a larger amperage rating fuse for that circuit and now the wiring itself is the fuse, not the actual fuse.

                          Sorry, by "good" I meant the correct fuses are installed. I'm not sure why they didn't blow.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            What's weird is that is only fried the wire up until it plugs into the main harness. The wire after the plug is fine.

                            Comment

                            Working...
                            X