Electrical nightmare

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Dingleberry

Member
Posts
55
Location
Doncaster
Alright guys,
My 110 is off the road! Wiring loom has melted and to be honest it wasn't good 17yrs ago when I bought it.
My 110 is a 1986 with a 200tdi defender conversion! It's been chopped and changed by mates to keep it going, but the time has come!
I've searched every Avenue to try to find someone who can fit a new wiring loom(main,engine and chassis) but to no avail.
I'm pretty much on my arse to be honest!
Is there any hope that I could pull this off with a few(I mean alot) of help on here,
Regards Paul
P.s I don't understand basic electrics
 
I'd suggest it is DIYable, BUT, the time and money on cable etc. is going to be similar money to a new loom IME - if you don't use correct coloured cable, it's going to be a nightmare to find any faults in the future ....

How bad is the loom ? Post some pictures up ...
 
Thank you for the reply! Unfortunately I work away from home. I'm hoping to get back Thursday night, so I'll take some photos!
My problems started about 8yrs ago when a friend who owned his own spray booth did me a respray for next to nowt! During the prep work the tie wraps that held the loom to the inner wing were snipped( I don't know why) .
Within a couple of days the loom got caught around the steering column and the rest is history.
Bodge, bodge,bodge later( all by well meaning pals) and here I am!
I'm at my wits ends to be honest( that's dramatic for me )
Everything apart from the alternator, the rear near side tail light and rear number plate light are actually still working! It's just a mass of bodges though!
Thanks again for replying!
Any help/suggestions will be so gratefully received
 
Within a couple of days the loom got caught around the steering column and the rest is history.

So, that part of the loom needs repairing, PROPERLY. I.E. damaged cables cutting out, and replacing with the right colour and correct current rating, probably one at a time... then it all needs wrapping or putting in conduit to protect, and fastening out of the way of a certain steering column..... :rolleyes::D

TBH, that will be lot easier than I had imagined from your initial post - BUT, still need pictures :)
 
Engine and chassis will be easiest, main harness will be dash out. Its dooable, just be methodical. Change one at a time so you dont just rip it all out and leave yourself in a pickle.
 
Thanks for all the replies, it really is appreciated.
I'll take some photos on friday and post them up. I suppose it's going to be dash out just to see what's happening.
I forgot to mention in my original post, the two thick brown wires that go from the starter motor up into the loom and through the bulk head are completely melted! I'm guessing they will have damaged other wires in the loom.
Thanks again, photos to follow on Friday.
Cheers Paul
 
I forgot to mention in my original post, the two thick brown wires that go from the starter motor up into the loom and through the bulk head are completely melted! I'm guessing they will have damaged other wires in the loom.
Thanks again, photos to follow on Friday.
Cheers Paul

Paul, if it helps mine is a 1987 Ninety with Def200tdi engine. I too bought with frazzled wiring but a previous owner had kindly wrapped new electrical tape around old taped wiring. My ignition/starter brown wires and front lighting wire were all shot. I bought the Autosparks starter /alternator and glow plug wiring engine bay looms but made my own headlight, sidelight and indicator looms repositioning them high up under wing tops and repositioned each side earth to a high up readily accessible combined single earth point for each side of the car.
 
Paul, if it helps mine is a 1987 Ninety with Def200tdi engine. I too bought with frazzled wiring but a previous owner had kindly wrapped new electrical tape around old taped wiring. My ignition/starter brown wires and front lighting wire were all shot. I bought the Autosparks starter /alternator and glow plug wiring engine bay looms but made my own headlight, sidelight and indicator looms repositioning them high up under wing tops and repositioned each side earth to a high up readily accessible combined single earth point for each side of the car.

I bunny hopped my lighting earths direct to the battery.
 
Just to put this one to bed, I've decided(after looking at wiring diagrams and reading through previous threads on here) that electrics are not for me.
The search continues for someone local to do the work for me.
Thanks for all the replies
 

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To be honest, 36 year old wire, even undamaged, will have brittle insulation and easily break down. Apart from a voltage drop, could catch fire then ots bye bye 90. I also have a 200tdi in a 110 and the wiring is terrible. I've had smoke and melted wires twice but manage to stop a full blown fire. If your keeping it, save up your pennies for a couple of years and give autosparkes a call. That's what I'll be doing if I ever get round to rebuilding it.
 
To be honest, 36 year old wire, even undamaged, will have brittle insulation and easily break down. Apart from a voltage drop, could catch fire then ots bye bye 90. I also have a 200tdi in a 110 and the wiring is terrible. I've had smoke and melted wires twice but manage to stop a full blown fire. If your keeping it, save up your pennies for a couple of years and give autosparkes a call. That's what I'll be doing if I ever get round to rebuilding it.
Pennies aren't the problem! It's getting someone to do the job.
It seems that the auto electricians round my way are lost if they can't plug a computer into it
 
If you get a loom made, it will come as original. When you remove yours, tape all the loose ends and mark where they came from. The plugs will go where they go. If some of your wiring has been changed to different colours, download a wiring schematic for your vehicle. With that and help from here I'm sure you'll do it.
 
If you get a loom made, it will come as original. When you remove yours, tape all the loose ends and mark where they came from. The plugs will go where they go. If some of your wiring has been changed to different colours, download a wiring schematic for your vehicle. With that and help from here I'm sure you'll do it.

+1 - IMHO, getting a loom is the simplest way forward.
 
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