Electrical Fire

[Steve D.]

Re: Electrical Fire

If I wanted to ad the links that John listed, where would I start?

[Jerry G.]

Re: Electrical Fire

After Bills post and thinking about the switch, I decided to pull the plug in's on the back of the switch. I figured no current with the switch wiring pulled, there would be no path back to the solenoid if the switch was bad. I then made sure that the wiring insulation was OK and not melted together. I hooked up the battery and the wiring heated up again. I assume that means that either the solenoid or the starter must have a short. I plan on pulling them tomorrow and take them to a shop to have them checked. What do you guys think?

[Richard M.]

Re: Electrical Fire

Jerry, Yes it's possible you have a starter/solenoid problem, but.............

With the ignition switch wiring pulled, your battery is still connected to several other places without circuit protection(fuses).

The black wire that connects from battery cable/solenoid bolt to the ammeter and beyond is still connected. Black wire connects to the ammeter. The other side of the ammeter is a heavy gauge red wire. Note there is no fuse protection for these items.

Red wire goes directly to:
1-The cigarette lighter
2-The clock
3-The horn relay(B terminal)
4-The voltage regulator(B terminal from horn relay junction)
5-The headlight switch. There is a fuse/breaker in the switch to protect the lights, but there could be a short before the protection.
6-Courtesy lights(through the headlight switch orange & white wires)
7-Accessory terminal block

Now you could remove the starter and have that checked, but based on your problem as described, I think your power to ground short is elsewhere.

Rich
p.s. If you would like a (readable)copy of the 1956 wiring diagram let me know and I'll email it to you.

[Jack H.]

Re: Electrical Fire

(1) Determine the gauge of the wire used on the circuits you want to protect.

(2) Go to your local auto parts store and purchase fusible links designed to protect that gauge of wire.

(3) Splice the fusible links into those line(s).

Note; some factory original links were 'hidden' in the wiring harness being splice in up-stream of a given wire's terminating point and then covered by the tape wrap on the harness assy...

[Steve D.]

Re: Electrical Fire

Thank you.

[Jack H.]

Re: Electrical Fire

To reinforce what Richard said, there are circuits that are un-switched and circuits that are un-fused. Do NOT assume there's no power in the system unless you disconnect the battery!

That's why the first step in just about all factory service proceedures starts with: (1) disconnect the battery....

[Jerry G.]

Re: Electrical Fire

UPDATE: I found the problem. When the shielding cut through the ignition harness, it ended up shorting out the ammeter guage. Luckily it stop there, or it would have taken out the main harness and the car. Long story short, I disconnected the feed coming from the starter to the guage and disconnected the other side of guage wiring and bolted them together, hooked up the battery and I have all lights and ignition switch operation again. Whew! I made sure there were no other problems anywhere else. Anybody know of a source for a used gauge or a fast turn around rebuilding service? Thanks to everyone for your help. I was VERY lucky.