Hello,

For the past few days I have been smelling a burning rubbery smell, since I bought the car I have not been able to turn off the heater, the dial would be on 0 but the air would still be full blast, when I accelerated I could hear a difference in the air being blown, it would almost slow down a bit (If that makes sense) and sometimes it would not work at all and kick in once I was driving a while.

Then a few days ago the heater didn't come on and as I turned the corner it came on followed by a big puff of smoke, then I could really smell burning.. Below my steering wheel to the left behind the panels the wires were on fire.

The wire is all burnt out, I think it's the 'loom' wire for the heating, all over electrics in the car work except the heating, heated back window and the stereo won't turn off only when I turn off the engine.

My bf cut the wire as when we saw a mechanic he said he would have to cut the wire then chase it back to see where it leads :-S he quoted between £250-£400 (he also quoted my mum over £1k to fix 'problems' in her car when it was only a starter motor she needed)

Does anyone know how much I am looking to have to pay to get this fixed? And is this car even safe to drive ATM?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance ))

Yeah you'll need a loom and relay but to fit I think that's about 150ish including parts?

I wouldn't say out is safe to drive without fans, not in this weather. When my heating went I left the car only taking it down to the garage down the road. which was bad enough in freezing conditions!

Also find another mechanic lol.

You can get a loom replacement kit from vauxhall for the Corsa bit fiddly but you don't have to replace the whole loom however I'd be tempted to because IIRC it is uprated from the original.

For the sake of the newbie op, the corsa and Grande share many of their parts. Hence a Vauxhall loom can be used to repair your car. Either that or a good auto electrician could replace the wires.

If the wiring actually caught fire i would get the battery disconnected NOW and leave it disconnected until its sorted........

If several circuits are playing up you need to ascertain the amount of damage done to the separate looms


this guide should help you along with the heater issues

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-faqs/314051-heater-faq.html?p=3134013



but it sounds like yours has "gone" behind the heater control knobs rather than at the resistor pack if you have lost the heated rear screen it as its switched from the same area of the dash its probably on the same plug

Thank you for your comments, Andy I was reading your thread before seeing these replies.

Do any of you know of a HONEST auto electrician in the East London or Dagenham area?

Phone some of them up, tell them you're problem if they quote you silly money or don't mention what we've mentioned in this thread then either they don't know what they're doing or want to rip you off.

Make some rough notes from here so you can clearly see yourself if someone is being honest or not.

Hi again, do i tell them it caught fire? a soon has the we told the mechanic it set fire i think he thought KERCHING!

I have found a loom wire on eBay item number: 181063687358 would this be what I need? Is it hard to fit yourself? If its easy I could get my dad to it and save some £££££ (hopefully)

Thank you

That is the part to fix your heating but as Andy has said it looks like other parts of your electrics are damaged!

I'd be either A: Throwing in the towel and get a pro in.
B: Throw a can of petrol at it and watch it fully burn* :devil: :rumour:

* We at fiatforum take no responsibility when using flammable substances near fabric materials & red hot faulty electrics.

You have to remove the dash to replace the loom yes. Repairing the wires yourself hmm I wouldn't attempt it but maybe you are a spark-ette?!

Yes just tell them all the information, ball park you are looking at around £150-£200 depending on labour for the entire loom and relay replacement.

Guys anyone want to add anything to that or correct me? It is what I was quoted.

EDIT: Hmm, what AM says, I would definitely hand it in to an auto spark, it may not be a case of just replacing the loom...

EDIT 2: Or just do as Chris says and set it alight.

ChrisUK said:

That is the part to fix your heating but as Andy has said it looks like other parts of your electrics are damaged!

I'd be either A: Throwing in the towel and get a pro in.
B: Throw a can of petrol at it and watch it fully burn* :devil: :rumour:

* We at fiatforum take no responsibility when using flammable substances near fabric materials & red hot faulty electrics.

Click to expand...

I don't want another fire lol *hides face*

It only looks like the one set of wires that has burnt, I've had a few people look behind the panels just to make sure iam right..

Do you think it's worth buying and attempting it myself (well my dad) then go to a electrician of its more than just the wire??

Does your Dad know what he is doing or is he just a have-a-go-Joe?

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_38523.htm


Might be a wise investment :idea:






Anyways.....

your going to have to do some careful inspection behind the dash

get the side panels off in the foot wells

get the cd player out

heater controls out


and have a really careful look for any damage to wiring behind there.....

the heater loom can be done without removing the dash (with care and time) unless you have climate control (the digital heater controls rather then knobs)

this might help....

Anyone know where I can get a loom wire except for eBay, I want it today not have to wait for delivery.

I feel to throw in the towel and sell the car

Vauxhall dealer may stock them.

MissJade89 said:

Anyone know where I can get a loom wire except for eBay, I want it today not have to wait for delivery.

I feel to throw in the towel and sell the car

Click to expand...

what part is melted?

the vauxhal part chris mentions is the plug that goes onto the resistor pack (refer to the faq) for pics if your unsure

MissJade89 said:

Anyone know where I can get a loom wire except for eBay, I want it today not have to wait for delivery.

Click to expand...

Fiat dealership's stock them.

MissJade89 said:

My bf cut the wire as when we saw a mechanic he said he would have to cut the wire then chase it back to see where it leads :-S he quoted between £250-£400 (he also quoted my mum over £1k to fix 'problems' in her car when it was only a starter motor she needed)

Click to expand...

If you want the best advice available come here,anything else is just 'pub talk'!

Magic Johnson said:

You have to remove the dash to replace the loom yes.

Click to expand...

Nah, it's a hours job and that dealership time although most will charge you the 1.5 book time which is fair enough. I do them for the loom £84 + hour to fit, easy dosh

Andy Monty said:

what part is melted?

the vauxhal part chris mentions is the plug that goes onto the resistor pack (refer to the faq) for pics if your unsure

Click to expand...

The wires, if you unclip the drivers side panel you see the wire straight away..