Hi, first time poster here.

Have today lifted the bonnet on my 1.2 Lounge (2011). Battery is dead, and was just going to start extraction to charge, when I noticed a worrying 'melt' of the wiring loom cover attached to -ve. There's no source of heat anywhere near the issue, and can't think what's caused it. Anyone had a similar problem ? Yes, it's getting old, but it's only done 50K, and not had any other major issues.

Thank you

SWS

Strip off all the outer "covering" 3" to either side inspect all the cables are the wires nearest the top melted in any way, it needs investigating.
It's definitely melted, not eaten?

Looks charred - short circuit arcing?

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to carefully strip back, as the wiring underneath doesn't look melted (at least on first inspection), and it's difficult to be sure, but it could be just deterioration, i.e. old age. Very strange that it should only happen at that point, with the rest in much better shape. Haven't had any electrical issues at all

SWS

Doesn't look deteriorated, looks melted, something has shorted out.

I would remove the battery before taking the bundle appart and wear gloves, the glue on the tape does break down over time and is really horrible to get on your skin.

Thanks, will let you know. Just weird that there's no heat source near that would have caused it, and I've had no electrical problems (yet). More later. Appreciate the comments so far - v helpful.

SWS

My thought... (it's early in the morning here, so go easy with me.. )

It looks like the ribbed plastic trunking has a join at that point, which is covered by the cloth tape.

The plastic trunking should last for 300 years or more in there (the same stuff on The Younger Mrs S' 1996 Cinquecento still looks brand new... when I clean it ) so it can't have deteriorated (or at least, all by itself).

If the wiring underneath is in good nick then its also unlikely that the "melt" is caused by an electrical (from the inside-out) problem.

My idea is that the cloth tape has gone a bit ginger (maybe it reacted with something.. potentially brake fluid?) and has gone "melted" but not because of heat (electical issue).

If you remove it all, you will hopefully find that the plastic trunking is actually unharmed which would prove that it's just a tape problem. New PVC tape ought to fix it.


Ralf S.

To me.. it looks like the orange and white wire is bent at 90' and pointing out..

So its difinitely not just 'failed tape'

Pull the battery out and charge it anyway..
That might save you @£50..

0nly time ive had experience of this was a botched rebuild.. laid a loom section up against the radiator

Heat melted the outers
Once 2 wires were bared ... it really took hold

But as you say thats fairly 'safe there'..

Whats your history with the car..?

No major work that you are aware of..?


Im wondering if thats a 'junction' with a motor.. ( wipers..)? Spurring off from there.. there may have been a kink in the run that has built heat when under load

Let us know what you find

Charlie

Thanks for latest replies. About to charge the disconnected battery - to at least be ready to start her up. Will start to reveal the wiring covering problem once it's stopped raining here in Bristol. My thoughts were also about it having an element of 'junction' - but we'll see what I uncover.

Drying here ..1 hour west of you

If the battery's 'dead' it could be related. While you've got the battery out I should pull out and check all the fuses and also make sure they're all the right value.

OK, have now managed to peel back some of the area, and I don't think it's melted, it looks like general deterioration. There are no loose or broken wires as far as I can tell - which is good. I've had no problems at all with the car since we got it 7 years ago, so no indications of anything electrical going wrong. Either side of the joint (the 3 sides) the plastic sleeving is intact - just seems a poor job in build or afterwards to leave a section of loom with just tape to cover/protect. Perhaps a Friday afternoon build back in Italy.
Will post pic shortly. Does anyone have a 2011 500 to see what there's looks like ?

SWS

Glad to hear it's not so serious.

This is a 2013 but it might help;

Both built in Poland ..

Flat battery probably just lack of use..

Plenty of that occuring

Let us know in a week

I have just been outside and taken a picture of my 2013 twinair turbo engine and the only difference I can see is that my tape was zip strapped to stop it unpeeling. And my dog, Max, was watching to make sure I didn't go anywhere !

varesecrazy said:

Drying here ..1 hour west of you

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Wales, is it?

I'm in Newport these days.



Ralf S.

Ralf S. said:

Wales, is it?

I'm in Newport these days.



Ralf S.

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Ebbw Vale