I disconnected the battery to install a new tie down today and when i reconnected it it sparked a little, but i thought nothing of it. I tried to connect the electric fuel pump back up but it wouldn't come, then i noticed some smoke coming from a group of wires going into a black box (i have no clue what it is since im an idiot when i comes to electrical). It only happens when i attach the fuel pump, and the box itself as well as the wires attached to it all heat up. Does anyone have any clue what might be going on, cause i don't?
From your description it sounds like the black box is a relay powering the fuel pump. Something is shorted and is drawing way too much current thus smoking your wiring and/or relay. It' pretty hard to trouble shoot from 3000 miles away with out knowing how the pump is wired. I would take the pump off the relay an test it with 12v independently. If it doesn't run then it is most likely bad and is causing the overload. While it's removed check to see if the relay still smokes or is working alright ( use a test light) If it gives you 12v and no smoke then the pump is the culprit if it still smokes with the pump removed it is shorting somewhere and should be replaced. Regardless the relay may need replacing anyway due to the extreme overload it already had to take. Stu
The black box is the voltage regulator. I just bought the car and the previous owner replaced the fuel pump with an electric one (damn it!). The wiring in the car is pretty ****ty, but i can't see anything touching that would cause an arch or draw that much power.
Ah okay. Well it sounds like the fuel pump is drawing too much through that "pretty ****ty" wiring. It maybe a good idea to install a relay for the fuel pump so it can take the high load direct from the battery and have the relay powered from your ignition. Another point is once wiring starts to melt it starts making its own new shorts as the insulation melts so inspect it good. What kind of car is this BTW or is it home brewed? Stu
It's a '55 Oldsmobile, i messed with it for a little while and found that the two wires for the fuel pump (which is being replaced later this week) had been switched somehow, what used to be the ground was now the power and vise versa. The wires still heat up and smoke smoke when they're hooked up to the battery, but if i turn the car on and let it run they seem fine. Weird. I hate electrical!
Always Disconnect A Battery From The Ground Up.... Negative First ... And Replace Negative Last Sparks At A Batt. Terminal Is A Sign Of Currrent Draw.. When Not Running. Anything... There Should Be None Unless You Have A Clock Or Radio.wired Hot (direct To The Battery).. Dome Light , Trunk Hood Lite On While Doing The Cable Removal Removing The Positve Cable First Can Cause Explosions I Type This Way Cuz I Am Concerned For Your Health And Safety.
Thank You For Your Concern. I Am An Idiot When It Comes To Electrical Work, But Not An All Around Idiot.
you definitely have a current draw when the ignition is off by your description. With the negative cable disconnected attach a circuit test light between the ground cable and the negative battery post the light will glow bright with a current draw. Now you can start disconnecting wires in your case start at the fuel pump and disconnect each wire to see which turns the lite off you have found your source for current draw follow the wire to see where it is getting a battery source if there was smoke look for melted wires contacting a battery source.
The Jalopy Journal
