I had my first stranding today and I need advice on looking for one problem or two.

Symptoms:
Car dies while driving, pull over.
Car cranks fine, no start, seems like no fuel.
Pull out and put in DME relay (spare is back home). It seems hot, contacts clean. No luck
Check fuse to fuel pump - burned out.
replace fuse with 15 amp(same size)
Car starts, runs for a few seconds, then stops.
Check fuse - burned out again.
Replace fuse with 30 amp fuse
Same - runs until fuse burns out, a few seconds.
Replace again, starts, dies, crank it for 10 seconds -
smoke appears from turbo area - electrical kind of smell
Panic, stop trying, get ride home.

So is it one problem or two. My theory (two problems) is - bad DME relay causes short, pops fuse. Extended cranking causes hot starter power cable that starts to fry insulation. Need relay and ice shark kit.

Any other ideas? Test plans? is there another electrical problem that causes the smoking that also is popping the fuse? (one problem with two symptoms) Some other short?


Any advice on how to proceed appreciated. thanks
Dave
87 951

 

Have you checked the wiring to the pump? Maybe there's a short somewhere. Or maybe the electical motor on the pump is shorted internally.

 

Per factory electricals:

The 15 amp fuel pump fuse also feeds the heater in the O2 sensor and the G-21 relay (turbo water pump).

Only the hot wire to the heater in the O2 sensor goes into the engine compartment.

 

SoCal, WTF is your avatar?

 

Thats - interesting
I just changed the o2 sensor 2 weeks ago and spliced the wires for the generic sensor. Maybe I didn't do that right. The splice is also down under the turbo.

thanks

 

And I haven't checked the wiring to the pump yet, now on the list - car won't be home until tomorrow

 

SoCal wrote:

Then DB944T wrote:
Hmmm, I think I see a connection.....

Or lack thereof.