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CaptainDan

Member Since: 14 Apr 2017
Location: Victoria
Posts: 53

2013 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Alaska White

Defender 2.2 l MY 13 Fire in the Cabin

Hi All

I just wanted to share a very worrying story which happened yesterday while driving my MY2013 Defender 130. I smelt burning in the cabin followed very shortly by thick black smoke which filled the cabin after turning off the ignition and bailing out and looking underneath the vehicle with nothing to see I returned to the drivers seat and saw flames coming from the handbrake boot. I dumped some water which was all I had and put out the flames which were not big but getting bigger. When the smoke cleared I removed the handbrake boot to find the electrical lead to the handbrake switch had burn through the insulation and arched onto the handbrake. i would have though it would have blown a fuse or something but the wire was completely burnt through to the core and shorting out. It must have generated a lot of heat because not only was the insulation burn as well as the floor matting ant the boot but it seemed to have melted the handbrake cable because when i applied the handbrake the cable seemed initially soft and then broke completely showing signs of heat damage.

I just wanted to alert others to this potential problem and recommend you remove the boot and take a close look at the condition of the wire to the handbrake switch before you have a similar situation as I had which could have been so much worse. If anyone else has had similar problems please let me know and share this around.

Daniel

29th Jan 2019 11:47am

ickle

Member Since: 22 Jul 2010
Location: South Vendee
Posts: 1785

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Alpine White

I would guess you've ' lost ' the main chassis / transmission earth strap and the drivetrain is earthing through the handbrake cable - the little cable to the handbrake if shorted to earth would only illuminate the hand brake on light, it only goes to earth through the switch anyway, so its collateral damage only.

Have you had any mechanical work done recently that would have removed the earth strap or it may have vibrated loose on your roads.

Have fun!

Keith

29th Jan 2019 12:17pm

JOW240725

Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7906

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey

Sounds scary! Hope you get it fixed without too much bother. Be interesting to hear what the casuse was. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers

29th Jan 2019 3:27pm

CaptainDan

Member Since: 14 Apr 2017
Location: Victoria
Posts: 53

Hi Ickle

Yes I just had a new engine put in the vehicle 2k Kms ago now I am worried where do I find the main chassis earth strap to check if it has come off?

Thanks

Daniel

29th Jan 2019 6:34pm

Caterham

Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6300

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

flaming heck, could have been much worse.

here's a picture of what I believe to be the main earth on the transfer box.

Click image to enlarge

sorry only photo I could find. if you look carefully - middle of photo to the rear. the black earth cable. mine was rubbing on the transerbox /gearbox to chassis mount (the rubber mount has a metal heat shield which it was rubbing on).

sorry not the best but hope it helps?

29th Jan 2019 6:43pm

CaptainDan

Member Since: 14 Apr 2017
Location: Victoria
Posts: 53

Hi Caterham

Ok thanks it could have been worse I cannot see your photo though do you think it is ok to drive?

29th Jan 2019 6:52pm

CaptainDan

Member Since: 14 Apr 2017
Location: Victoria
Posts: 53

I can see the photo now thanks

29th Jan 2019 6:53pm

Caterham

Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6300

I had various indicator issues when mine wasn't tightened, and from what's already happened (assuming that is due to a missing earth(?))

I say get the earth sorted before using it - even if it's only a temporary one.

the other thing I'd be inclined to do is check that you've got the right size fuse in place for the hand brake.

29th Jan 2019 6:56pm

LR90XS2011

Member Since: 05 Apr 2011
Location: bickenhill
Posts: 3643

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green

ickle wrote:
I would guess you've ' lost ' the main chassis / transmission earth strap and the drivetrain is earthing through the handbrake cable - the little cable to the handbrake if shorted to earth would only illuminate the hand brake on light, it only goes to earth through the switch anyway, so its collateral damage only.

Have you had any mechanical work done recently that would have removed the earth strap or it may have vibrated loose on your roads.

Have fun!

Keith

As Kieth says this has all the symptom's of an earth fault not a hand brake light fault, take it back to the people who changed the engine it is an issue they have probably caused but dont drive it until sorted. DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,

I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy

29th Jan 2019 7:50pm

ickle

Member Since: 22 Jul 2010
Location: South Vendee
Posts: 1785

I always put an extra earth strap on anyway, chassis to engine, chassis to battery box, chassis to bulkhead, they can't hurt and may well help.

And as above - don't drive it! The inner and outer parts of the handbrake may be welded together - replace it anyway.

Good luck

Keith

29th Jan 2019 9:53pm

gazman

Member Since: 17 Aug 2015
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 652

I had a attempted theft where they cut the earths, I'm guessing to deactivate the alarm. A lot of my wiring runs through the cab so they were not successful but it melted my handbrake 2014 - current ..... 2003 defender td5 90 (my car)
2009 - current .... 2005 zx10r

29th Jan 2019 10:16pm

CaptainDan

Member Since: 14 Apr 2017
Location: Victoria
Posts: 53

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice I am taking it to the auto electrician for them to take and look and will get those extra earth straps fitted

Daniel

30th Jan 2019 6:48am

CaptainDan

Member Since: 14 Apr 2017
Location: Victoria
Posts: 53

Just a final update I took my Defender to the auto electrician today and confirmed that the earthing is ok, and I also took out the old handbrake cable. The insulation is completely melted along the full length to the drum so the little wire which was arching onto the cable core must have generated a lot of heat. Will replace the cable tomorrow and blank of the wire to the handbrake switch, so no more light on the dashboard but a small price to pay given the damage cause and how much worse it could have been.

Daniel

31st Jan 2019 10:43am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17433

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

There is absolutely no way that a fault with the wiring to the handbrake warning light switch caused your handbrake cable to get that hot. Whatever the autoelectrician may say, the only way that this could happen is if the earthing between the engine/gearbox and the chassis has failed.

It would require a very considerable current to be flowing through the core of the handbrake cable to make it that hot, and it is exactly what happens when an earth fault causes the earth path for the alternator to divert through it (100+ Amps, unfused).

Your autoelectrician is either mistaken or is pulling the wool over your eyes.

31st Jan 2019 11:14am

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2655

Indeed. Earthing through the handbrake cable is a known Defender fault.

The little handbrake light cable has nothing to do with your issue.

31st Jan 2019 7:38pm

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