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Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 9:05 pm
by Dave M
Hi guys need your help on this one
Been using my D quite a bit with no real problems - always had a problem with headlights - no matter how many times you push the light switch in I only get dipped lights and main beam off the indicator stalk so basically no side lights !
Went out last Sunday ( day light ) came back in the dark - within 10 mins there was a burning smell in the car and a bit of smoke then I lost dipped lights so drove a bit further on main beam - smell and smoke coming from behind passenger seat - pulled in to take a look and a hole had burnt through carpet and an in-line fuse holder and fuse had melted - I have tried to show some pics of the wires and the fuse box - I seem to remember reading something about the fuse box melting and a wiring mod - as you can see from the pics my fuse box has 2 missing fuses and damage where they should be - I’m pretty sure this damage was done before I bought the car and the PO has done some sort of mod - wondering if it was just the cover on the inline fuse come off and the fuse shorted against something ? I must also point out the rear lights - side marker lights and front amber lights all work fine - I have booked car in with my old school Volvo guy next week so any info would be most appreciated- I have a workshop manual ( cheap reprint - photo copy ) with a shite wiring diagram - any more details on the mod or more info on what could be the problem would be a great help for my Volvo guy

Re: Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 9:26 pm
by mec
Im not sure what the answer is on your headlights, I do know that my own fuse box looks very similar to yours with the same in line fuse holders, I've often wondered if it was worth making a cooling setup with some computer CPU fans to keep everything cool, be interested on peoples opinions of that idea

Re: Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 9:59 pm
by Dave M
Is this normal - what does these 2 burnt out fuse holders do - everything seems to work ok but for the lights - anybody think the in line fuse holders are there to replace the burnt out ones ???

Re: Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:39 pm
by mec
yes the inline fuse holders are definitely there to replace burnt out ones, mine has 5 or more that have been replaced with in line ones

Re: Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:54 pm
by TristanC
This should help identify them Dave:
Image

At least one of them relates to the low beams.

Tris

Re: Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 10:58 pm
by Dave M
So had the car back yesterday - turns out there was a short on the front passenger side dipped headlight (wondered why it was always dim - just thought it was a bulb ) so that short burnt out the in-line fuse holder which my carpet was sitting on hence the burning smell and smoke in the car - just wondering now what fuse should I use for the inline holders - think I have 20a at the moment.

Re: Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 1:51 pm
by CFI
You must be relieved that it was nothing too serious. This is a good reminder to us all to keep an eye on those troublesome fuses.

Re: Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 12:24 pm
by Dave M
Yes but why didn't the fuse do its job and just blow ? And what size fuse should be used ?

Re: Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 1:23 pm
by TristanC
Dave M wrote:Yes but why didn't the fuse do its job and just blow ? And what size fuse should be used ?


My diagram at the start of the thread shows the fuse sizes?

Re: Fire !! FIRE !!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 8:24 pm
by Dave M
Yes triston thanks for the fuse diagram - but wondering if it should have been a lower amperage after all it looks like the short that was on the dipped light caused the fuse to over heat and melt thus burning a hole in the carpet and my wife vowing to never travel in the car again ( she has since retracted that remark )
But why didn’t the fuse just blow rather than melt - that’s what a few is supposed to do - am I missing something here ? Should I put a 10 amp in ??