Technical Cooked wiring loom.

[MacScrims]

Help!!!! Morag, our motorhome has cooked her wiring loom. the fuses on the sidelights have melted and having spent the best part of the day taking the dash to bits, the wiring loom between the ignition and the glovebox fuse box looks shot. I hoped that I could just run a few new wires but it looks like the whole thing needs replacing.
Although a 1998 model she is too good to scrap, has just had a new clutch and some bodywork done. She is a 2.8 idtd with a good strong engine. Does anyone know if I can get a new/ second hand loom? Also, does anyone know of any auto electric engineers in Dumfries and Galloway/ South West Scotland area who may be able to help?Can anyone help?

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[bugsymike]

The trouble with wiring loom fires/shorting it always goes much further than you first think, it happens in seconds and it isn't just the wires that short it is the ones laying against the shorted ones that have their insulation melted also.
The damage can take many hours of a skilled auto electrician at high labour costs, so a bit of a nightmare.
Re a second hand loom, just guessing but it may be a Peugeot Boxer or Citroen Relay of the same age and engine configuration if still available for a 28 year old vehicle, generally it is only the Motor Homes that are still around as all the working vans will have been replaced by now.
One small thing in it's favour is I assume it is pre ECU (computer) although will still have some form of immobiliser at the injector pump.

 

[MacScrims]

The trouble with wiring loom fires/shorting it always goes much further than you first think, it happens in seconds and it isn't just the wires that short it is the ones laying against the shorted ones that have their insulation melted also.
The damage can take many hours of a skilled auto electrician at high labour costs, so a bit of a nightmare.
Re a second hand loom, just guessing but it may be a Peugeot Boxer or Citroen Relay of the same age and engine configuration if still available for a 28 year old vehicle, generally it is only the Motor Homes that are still around as all the working vans will have been replaced by now.
One small thing in it's favour is I assume it is pre ECU (computer) although will still have some form of immobiliser at the injector pump.

 

[MacScrims]

No there isn’t an ecu and immobiliser removed. I hadn’t thought of Peugeot and Citroen variants so thanks for that. I’ll just have to keep fingers crossed and hope a reasonably priced autoelectrician comes out of the woodwork.

 

[bugsymike]

Can you trace the cause and where those wires went all the way?
If you can localise the damage to some extent it may help.
Try not to just rip out everything, it will frighten any prospective electricians, most professionals tend not to like taking on a job after someone else has been there.
I am assuming the battery is disconnected now?
If hopefully you get to a point of testing circuits etc. may I suggest a lowish amperage fuse between battery and everything else, until you get to testing the starter side of course.
Incidentally, I have just thought if being a MotorHome you have auxiliary leisure battery and split circuity charging or Zig unit, I suggest that is disconnected and tested before any final test.
Lots of photos and notes before removing parts to record what goes where.

 

[MacScrims]

Can you trace the cause and where those wires went all the way?
If you can localise the damage to some extent it may help.
Try not to just rip out everything, it will frighten any prospective electricians, most professionals tend not to like taking on a job after someone else has been there.
I am assuming the battery is disconnected now?
If hopefully you get to a point of testing circuits etc. may I suggest a lowish amperage fuse between battery and everything else, until you get to testing the starter side of course.
Incidentally, I have just thought if being a MotorHome you have auxiliary leisure battery and split circuity charging or Zig unit, I suggest that is disconnected and tested before any final test.
Lots of photos and notes before removing parts to record what goes where.

Battery and 2 leisure batteries disconnected. I think the main flashpoint was the fuse box as the sidelights fuse has melted. The wires have melted the ones laying alongside. I was hoping to just replace damaged wires but so many seem to be damaged I’m not sure I can. Having looked at it I’m surprised the whole thing didn’t go up.

 

[bugsymike]

Battery and 2 leisure batteries disconnected. I think the main flashpoint was the fuse box as the sidelights fuse has melted. The wires have melted the ones laying alongside. I was hoping to just replace damaged wires but so many seem to be damaged I’m not sure I can. Having looked at it I’m surprised the whole thing didn’t go up.

As I said with electrical fires it is very quick how much damage can be done.

 

[Communicator]

Due my wife's medical problems I am currently having to act as her chauffeur. Yesterday I sat in during her hair dressing session.
The hairdresser has a converted Transit PVC, and I mentioned this thread in conversation.
This elicited the info that there is a company offering to build wiring harnesses for any vehicle. I believe that Ebay was also mentioned as being where the company advertised. I could be wrong as the conversation was rather disjointed.