Waiting for a tow truck

[RD911T]

Out for a drive before the snow comes in the next few days and my 71 quit. Smelled smoke, thought it was someone burning something nearby. Something burning on the car. Wiring? I'll post more later, but any advise on how to have the flatbed hook up and tow me back to the house?

[JJ 911SC]

Hard to say... But let your instinct guide you.

If something does not look good to you just stop it right there.

[Jdub]

Not sure I understand your question, but I would probably remove the negative battery cable from the battery and flat bed it home especially if you have towing insurance that will cover it (AAA). Good luck!

[djantlive]

Tow hook or chassis should be good to pull the car onto the flat bed with a winch. Reverse to unload. Good luck!

[pete3799]

Good suggestion to disconnect the battery. Sounds like something shorted.
Tow driver should be well versed on loading a low slung car. May need some wood to run the frt. tires up on so as not to hit the frt. valance/ spoiler going on.
Good luck.

[RD911T]

Thanks for replies. Got it home, was concerned the tow driver wouldn't know how to hook it up but he was a pro.

Was cruising along and smelled smoke. I had the top off, so I thought at first it was someone burning something. I checked all my gauges and oil pressure and temp were good. It happened pretty quick, pulled over and smoke was coming from underneath. Looked to be originating from near the junction between the motor and tranny. Smelled like rubber or wiring. I had messed with the drivers headlight earlier, pulled the bulb and put dielectric grease on the contacts. When I pulled over, that bulb was dim. I checked the fuses and none looked blown. The clutch seems to be working. The car will start but won't stay running. No power. Flashers worked and leaving the key on didn't make it any worse. Definitely related to running. Not sure what it could be. I'll disconnect the battery, that's a good suggestion.

[Walko]

Did smell like electrical smoke or oil smoke.

Michael

[RD911T]

Definitely electrical or rubber. When I first noticed it I thought maybe it was the clutch.

Did smell like electrical smoke or oil smoke.



Michael

[JohnJL]

My 71 did that too...turned out a PO had wired in 2 positive leads to the fuel pump. One of them shorted on the tub and burned up the entire wiring harness. Lucky you (and I!) stopped in time.

[RD911T]

I hope it's just the fuel pump. I wonder what else it could be?

[JohnJL]

As jdub mentioned, disconnect the battery and go hunting for the cause. If you dont find it or dont understand it after an honest hour of contemplation come back...

[RD911T]

I hear you. Family here for the holiday, it will be a few days before I can dig in. Thanks

[PorscheGAL]

Check your AC condenser. You can get the same smell from that going bad. Good luck.

[RD911T]

Thanks for the suggestion, but no A/C.

Check your AC condenser. You can get the same smell from that going bad. Good luck.

[RD911T]

I finally got caught up at work and had some time to look into this.

When this happened it seemed like the smoke was coming from under the car near the transmission. So I jacked it up and crawled underneath to look around. I was checking for burned wires or insulation as the smell had an electrical or rubber odor to it. I found two leads that were hanging free next to a sensor plug in the passenger side of the tranny, but I think they were that way before.

The PO had mounted the fuel pump under the drivers side just rear of the drivers side floor up on top of the frame. Hope that make sense, anyway, it looked fine and none of the wires looked burned or melted.

I checked the fuse panel again and checked all the wires going to the positive side of the battery.

I pulled the air cleaner and looked all the way around the engine compartment, nothing odd.

I pulled the cover over the ignition on the drivers side and there are fuses in the top and bottom position, none in the middle, both looked fine.

I decided to reconnect the battery and check the drivers headlight. I had taken that apart a few days before the drive and noticed when the incident happened it was much dimmer than the passenger side. I pulled the light and checked the connections and all seemed fine. I turned on the headlights and they both seemed normal. Some messing around with the plug made the light dim, I put dielectric grease on the contact and after seating it good it seemed fine. Next I turned on the ignition with the lights on and both headlights dimmed considerably, but I couldn't hear anything running, like the fuel pump.

Based on someone's earlier suggestion, I've been suspecting the fuel pump. Should it run as soon as the ignition is turned on? Could it have burned itself up without any exterior signs like burned wires? Seems like something is drawing current through the ignition. I don't have the relay setup for the headlights. I just bought the parts in December to make that modification, but haven't got it done.

When I tried crank the motor, the starter would barely turn it and certainly not spin it to start. I checked voltage on the battery and its 11.9v. I put a battery tender on it about 30 minutes ago.

I'm much better at mechanical than electrical stuff, so any suggestions with details about how to trouble shoot this would be appreciated!

Tom

[RD911T]

[IMG][/IMG]

Aha! I couldn't see the top of the fuel pump, but I could get my camera up there. This looks like a burned wire! I'll remove the fuel pump to investigate further!

[RD911T]

[IMG][/IMG]

Pic of the fuel pump. Definitely burned up. What is the hole in the side down low? It's rusted around there, but there was nothing hook up there that I could see. Just the 12v wire on top and the ground to the mounting bracket.

Suggestions on new fuel pump? Should I just try to find this same one and go back in with it?

[HawgRyder]

It looks like the wire got crimped hard between the pump and the chassis when it was mounted.
The discolouration in the lower area may be where the ground arc took place...perhaps the proper ground was not good.
In the top pic I see the ground wire on the pump mount...but maybe it was not conducting as it should.
Is there just one wire at the burn part or two?
If it is two wires...that would explain the arc being limited to the area of the tight turn...and the lower discoloured area might be the result of the secondary arcing after the hot wire was exposed.
Bob

[RD911T]

Just one wire into the top. I see what you're saying, I found pics of a new one and there is a rubber grommet around the wire going into the top. If the wire was pulled over hard, it would eventually wear through the grommet and arc.

Any suggestions on a new pump? It looks like this is a 36 GPH pump with 4.0-5.5 psi max.

Tom