Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Auto electrician

Hello, can anyone recommend a mobile auto electrician ? The car is undrivable.
I’m in Sudbury, on the Essex/Suffolk border.
Thanks, Chris (Morgan 4/4 1998)

What is the nature of the electrical problem Chris?

Hello Richard, the cables leading to or from the fuel pump have melted. They have been chafing . I’ve connected the pump directly to the battery, very briefly, and the pump is working ok.
I’d prefer an experienced auto electrician to look at it. I don’t want to cause further problems.

I appreciate your concern Chris but you have already "had a go" and seemingly proven the fuel pump is ok. Your call but I would be tempted to insulate the chaffing fuel pump wires if they appear otherwise serviceable, particularly the green/orange one. This supplies relay fed current to fuel pump via a dedicated 15 amp fuse. If this green/orange wire has shorted to chassis it will have blown this fuse so a simple replacement then should get you going, if only as a temporary fix.

Chris,
I would also say if you can fix it temporarily to get you going as Richard suggests any local garage should be able to fix it.
Would you like to ask around AngleMog members to see if they know of a reliable firm?

The fuse hasn’t blown and the relay still clicks. The power wire leading to the pump is white with a purple stripe. I shall try unsticking the molten wires but they are in a mess. Th damaged wires go for quite a distance and disappear into a loom where I cannot see them.
If anyone in the AngleMog group know of anyone, it would be helpful.
Many thanks for your replies.

Ok I'll ask

The first feedback is Rob on 07976 156444. Obviously I don't know the fellow so proceed with care.

That's odd Chris, the wiring diagram for the 1998-2004 4/4 shows the white/purple wire as main feed from relay to pump fuse and the green/orange I mentioned from this fuse onwards to fuel pump itself via engine loom connector. You can see for yourself here which may be useful to your electrician when you find one.

Other thought is that fuel pump is drawing excessive current causing wires to overheat over time whilst not blowing fuse

HI Chris,

Such things are not uncommon. You are very lucky. Normally it would be a fuel pump relay or a fuse (which should have blown before wire began melting..badly placed wiring fires are not fun). Apparently the fuse is too robust to function as fuses are designed to. You will have to fully sort it at a more convenient time..but meanwhile take advantage of all this. You also have found the problem (though smoke and smells must have come to your aid. Diagnosis is always 95% of any problem.

You can fix what is ailing and be proud of yourself with a few minutes of simple work..even fun.

Ideally, you would have a roll of black electrical tape in your glove box. Or is there a place nearby to buy that? Do you have scissors in the car? This is all you need to drive home or to your favorite dealer or even do a permanent fix with 3 pounds spend at Halfords.

1. Try to split the melted together wires. If that is possible and they stay whole (though their sheathing might be gone) Tape them up with electrical tape. They goal is to keep the raw wire from touch the other.

2. If you can't pull them apart, use the scissors to split them off from each other and tray to leave bare wire, extending out of each their plastic sheathings and each resultant ends on the two wires. Twist the ends on each (same) wire together. Cover with electrical tape if you have some, or anything non-metal that assures your splices do not split or touch the other wire.

3. Drive home.

4. You could also wire the detached power wire directly to the positive battery post. That will have your fuel pump run continually, but you can remove that wire when you get to where you want to do.

If you want to fix it permanently yourself, we can give you easy instruction on how to do that at your leisure. These things happen, you can choose to learn how to fix them yourself roadside or rely on others and waiting forever.

Good luck.

gmg.