Well - I discovered a 'rats-nest' of wiring under my dash. Turns out to be probably a modified old harness from a Marina car - so a lot to bundle up. [it was zip-tied roughly out of the way]
Wires were shortened to all the front lights and new wires of the wrong colour soldered on. Then insulated with 'rubber' sleeving which has now decayed to crumbly rubbish.
'Builder' must have had a couple of rolls of yellow and green wire to use up - plus endless blue insulating tape and some electricians earthing tape, not to mention domestic 'chocolate blocks' to use as joiners.
No extra fuses. 'New' brown charge wire from the alternator was connected by a very long route to the battery switch positive terminal - rather than straight down to the starter motor.
Small wonder that a potential buyer asked the original seller if the car's electrics 'worked'. "Just about … " would have been the realistic answer.
A poor contact on the headlight stalk (since rectified quite easily) meant they had routed the wires to 'new' flick switches - rather than remedying the original fault.
They had also left unused wires in the loom (wires for Marina interior lights and door switches, heated rear window, oil pressure switch - etc.)
All now removed (oil switch wire was a joke as the Marlin had a proper 0-100 psi oil gauge and pipe fitted ).
Oh the joys of putting right/sorting bodges on kit-cars built by people with enthusiasm but little skill.
Wires were shortened to all the front lights and new wires of the wrong colour soldered on. Then insulated with 'rubber' sleeving which has now decayed to crumbly rubbish.
'Builder' must have had a couple of rolls of yellow and green wire to use up - plus endless blue insulating tape and some electricians earthing tape, not to mention domestic 'chocolate blocks' to use as joiners.
No extra fuses. 'New' brown charge wire from the alternator was connected by a very long route to the battery switch positive terminal - rather than straight down to the starter motor.
Small wonder that a potential buyer asked the original seller if the car's electrics 'worked'. "Just about … " would have been the realistic answer.
A poor contact on the headlight stalk (since rectified quite easily) meant they had routed the wires to 'new' flick switches - rather than remedying the original fault.
They had also left unused wires in the loom (wires for Marina interior lights and door switches, heated rear window, oil pressure switch - etc.)
All now removed (oil switch wire was a joke as the Marlin had a proper 0-100 psi oil gauge and pipe fitted ).
Oh the joys of putting right/sorting bodges on kit-cars built by people with enthusiasm but little skill.
Comment