science 0 Posted January 30, 2011 Last week my corrrado developed a bit of a fire. I had just left work when there was a slight haze in the cabin, so slight, I thought it was steam and the classic heater matrix was on the way out. At this time, I was about to enter one of London's worst junctions turning into heavy rush hour traffic. :eek: Ten seconds later I realised the acrid billowing cloud could only be one thing. Time to turn around, sharpish. And then the flames started! Quick, grab the fire extinguisher from the back seat, but it's not there! That's when I properly shat it. A large amount of right boot and liberal use of the hand brake saw me coasting, ignition off, into work's car park patting the flames out behind the dash (luckily I had left the dash surround off whilst I had some dash bulbs on order)!!! As I legged it around work to find a CO2 extinguisher (why are the so many water ones, arrrghhh) I had nightmarish visions of a flaming pyre on my return and the endless calls I would have to make to my insurance of which I had just renewed the day before. But that was the end of it, although very nearly the end of my car. Later investigation revealed two entwined copper wires unidentifiable as the insulation had burnt off, which after removing most of the dash I traced back to..... ...the glovebox light? wtf! Corrado92.pdfphoto 1.JPG[/attachment:1v4nyskl] passat climatronic wiring diags.pdfphoto 2.JPG[/attachment:1v4nyskl] Turns out the bulb had slipped in the holder shorting the circuit, ok, so why hasn't the fuse blown? No 16 (15amp) fuse, slightly melted where it had gotten hot, but not blown? Surely that must be the wrong fuse rating? But no, it is a 15amp fuse according to the Robert Bently Manual for a car of that year ('93 VR6) to supply the glove box light and also voltmeter and oil pressure gauges (not fitted). Wiring.jpg[/attachment:1v4nyskl] I suspose it's possible the fuse was defective and didnt blow when it should, but to me a 15amp fuse to supply a 10watt bulb which at most could draw 0.5amp seems wrong? So, I have applied heat shrink to the exposed portion glove box light terminal. climatronic wiring-Golf from May 01.pdfphoto 4.JPG[/attachment:1v4nyskl] And would recommend this to you as a preventative measure to prevent this from happening. I think I may reinstall my (slightly illegal) halon fire extinguisher as, lets face it a burning corrado is also bad for the atmosphere. I will also be spending the the next week checking the loom for other damage although so far it only seems that only the glove box wires and the surrounding foam insulation were damaged, touch wood. :salute: 2.8l 24v Climatronic system.pdfphoto 3.JPG[/attachment:1v4nyskl] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pat_McCrotch 0 Posted January 30, 2011 I know what its like to experience a smoking dash. It's a horrible feeling :( Will look into this soon, also need to put an additional fuse on the headlight switch as I know thats another common one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RW1 0 Posted January 30, 2011 But no, it is a 15amp fuse according to the Robert Bently Manual for a car of that year ('93 VR6) to supply the glove box light and also voltmeter and oil pressure gauges (not fitted). Wiring.jpg[/attachment:1x5hnfkq] I suspose it's possible the fuse was defective and didnt blow when it should, but to me a 15amp fuse to supply a 10watt bulb which at most could draw 0.5amp seems wrong? Fuse 16 is Dash Instrument insert, glovebox light, rear spoiler, optional instruments. You are reading only part of the circuit. Trace busbar "k" in the relay plate in the area at the top of the diagram onto other pages. You will find the "other" cicuits hanging on it. From the photos it looks like arching started with random touching due to continuous vibration as you drove and so the current is not high enough to immediately blow the fuse, hard on metal to metal and it would have blown in a fraction of a second. Sufficient though to melt wiring insultation. Fuse wasn't defective. Behaving as one would expect under soft short circuit, ie. the fuse needs to heat up and slowly melts unlike a dead short. I always carry a fire extinguisher, one in the boot and one under my driver's seat. I have three in the daily driver. . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krnau 0 Posted January 31, 2011 :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: !!!!!!!! I'll do the heat shrink as well!! Thanks for this writeup :) BTW, there's one similar light in the boot... that one should also be heatshrinket should it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
science 0 Posted February 2, 2011 I know what its like to experience a smoking dash. It's a horrible feeling :( Will look into this soon, also need to put an additional fuse on the headlight switch as I know thats another common one. Yeah it sure is! I bought an in-line fuse for this purpose a while ago, I think this is the excuse I need to finally fit it. Fuse 16 is Dash Instrument insert, glovebox light, rear spoiler, optional instruments. You are reading only part of the circuit. Trace busbar "k" in the relay plate in the area at the top of the diagram onto other pages. You will find the "other" cicuits hanging on it. From the photos it looks like arching started with random touching due to continuous vibration as you drove and so the current is not high enough to immediately blow the fuse, hard on metal to metal and it would have blown in a fraction of a second. Sufficient though to melt wiring insultation. Fuse wasn't defective. Behaving as one would expect under soft short circuit, ie. the fuse needs to heat up and slowly melts unlike a dead short. I always carry a fire extinguisher, one in the boot and one under my driver's seat. I have three in the daily driver. . Damn, I completely missed busbar k, thanks for pointing that out! If I had my spoiler connected and was going over 40mph maybe the fuse would have blown. :lol: I'm definitely going to invest in a couple of new extinguishers, and I quite fancy one of those chavish fake nitrous/CO2 systems set to purge inside the cabin every time I get twitchy thinking about the wiring. BTW, there's one similar light in the boot... that one should also be heatshrinket should it? Oh yeah, I forgot about the boot light, I'll have a look at it tomorrow, ta. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krnau 0 Posted February 6, 2011 I did it yesterday. thanks for telling us!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
domwells27 0 Posted February 6, 2011 On a related note Lidl are selling powder fire extinguishers for £6.99 from Monday. Think i'll pick one up just in case! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimbobbalooba 0 Posted February 6, 2011 Blimey, I'm gonna spend next weekend checking my loom again before putting it all in. Seems odd with the fuse rating? Also gonna get the heat gun and do some shrinking on the interiors lights too. Good write-up and I'm glad the car (and you obviously) survived with injury. Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
science 0 Posted February 7, 2011 On a related note Lidl are selling powder fire extinguishers for £6.99 from Monday. Think i'll pick one up just in case! That is a bargain price, Nice One! They are normally about £20. I'll post it in the suppliers forum. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
