I've been a long time lurker, but now it is time to ask for some help.
Had a minor electrical fire under the hood yesterday. Melted the
fuse box on one end. I've searched the archives and didn't find any occurances like this.
Here's what happened...We (MN Trailriders were having a meeting and
annual vehicle tech inspection at ORO (Off Road Only) Saturday. ORO has had my XJ to tear apart the rear suspension and make templates for the kit this last week so I had the wife drop me off. They reported a dead
battery and having to charge it up prior ro test drives. I go to start it and yes the battery was dead. Put the charger on it and let it charge up a while. Started it up to move it outside and I notice the dome lights on. Tried to turn them off but they would not turn off from either the main light switch or the rear dome light switch. The voltage gage showed no charge with the engine running. Anyway, pulled it outside and it died going down the ramp. Checked the 60 amp fuse in the fuse box and found it was blown. Stuck the spare
fuse in and jump started it and it was showing a solid charge coming from the alternator. Decided to take it for a short freeway drive to charge up the battery, got about a mile down the road and hit a seam on the freway and saw the voltage guage drop to nuthin. Took the next exit and went a block & the engine died. Pulled over to the curb and that's when I saw the smoke coming from under the hood on the passenger side. Grabbed the fire extinguisher and opened the hood and saw the fuse box burning. Was able to blow out the flames of the burning plastic then disconnected the battery. Thank heavens for cell phones, I was able to call one of the club members and get a tow back to ORO and the meeting.
Has anyone experienced this before and can tell me what went wrong?
I have my suspicions but would like to hear it from the experts.
Obviously the fuse box will need to be replaced, how big a job is this going to be and will I need to salvage a wiring harness to go along with the fuse box. I am thinking that 93-95 XJ's fuse boxes will match what is in my 95.
BTW, I do have some pics, just no way to post them.
Thanks
Jerry H
MPLS, MN
95 XJ Sport, 4" AiROCK Prototype
Had a minor electrical fire under the hood yesterday. Melted the
fuse box on one end. I've searched the archives and didn't find any occurances like this.
Here's what happened...We (MN Trailriders were having a meeting and
annual vehicle tech inspection at ORO (Off Road Only) Saturday. ORO has had my XJ to tear apart the rear suspension and make templates for the kit this last week so I had the wife drop me off. They reported a dead
battery and having to charge it up prior ro test drives. I go to start it and yes the battery was dead. Put the charger on it and let it charge up a while. Started it up to move it outside and I notice the dome lights on. Tried to turn them off but they would not turn off from either the main light switch or the rear dome light switch. The voltage gage showed no charge with the engine running. Anyway, pulled it outside and it died going down the ramp. Checked the 60 amp fuse in the fuse box and found it was blown. Stuck the spare
fuse in and jump started it and it was showing a solid charge coming from the alternator. Decided to take it for a short freeway drive to charge up the battery, got about a mile down the road and hit a seam on the freway and saw the voltage guage drop to nuthin. Took the next exit and went a block & the engine died. Pulled over to the curb and that's when I saw the smoke coming from under the hood on the passenger side. Grabbed the fire extinguisher and opened the hood and saw the fuse box burning. Was able to blow out the flames of the burning plastic then disconnected the battery. Thank heavens for cell phones, I was able to call one of the club members and get a tow back to ORO and the meeting.
Has anyone experienced this before and can tell me what went wrong?
I have my suspicions but would like to hear it from the experts.
Obviously the fuse box will need to be replaced, how big a job is this going to be and will I need to salvage a wiring harness to go along with the fuse box. I am thinking that 93-95 XJ's fuse boxes will match what is in my 95.
BTW, I do have some pics, just no way to post them.
Thanks
Jerry H
MPLS, MN
95 XJ Sport, 4" AiROCK Prototype
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