Major electrical problem

[mdes0]

Hey guys, hoping someone can lend me a hand. Have a 91 m998 that had been running great. The last time I drove it I noticed that it smelled like burnt brakes or clutch, thought I might have a dragging caliper. A week later I went to move it into my garage to check the brakes and found that the batteries were dead. First battery in series was so low the charger wouldnt charge it. Anyway, got the batteries squared away and when I installed them I heard a very loud pop from the drivers side and quickly pulled the battery cable.
When I went to the drivers side it looked like the starter box was smoking and I could hear sizzling... I had read somewhere that there were breakers behind the gauge cluster but I don't see any. So far I haven't found any fried or melted wires so I have no idea what the **** happened.

Anyone have any ideas? Are there fuses or breakers somewhere?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Action]

there are 2 circuit breakers behind the dash on the right side of the steering column housing. you can probably reach up under the dash and find them or just look up there. they are round and each have 2 wres pushed into them. they are roughly 1 1/2" wide and 1" thick.

 

[mdes0]

Any idea how to reset them or test them?

 

[86humv]

There is no reset.....check them with an Ohm meter.
If good, they will read through.
Sounds like you need a new box.

 

[mdes0]

So I pulled the control box and it looks like it dam near caught on fire inside. Can those with more experience with these tell me if they think the solenoid shorted and fried everything else or do you think I have another problem that caused the box to fry? About a week before I started having issues the brake light would not go out even when the e-brake was released, fluid levels were fine as were the connections on the master cylinder. Hadn't figured that one out yet. Now wondering if its related some how.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[mdes0]

Anyone have an opinion on the cause or has anyone seen this type of damage before? Will be replacing the old box with a new S3 and will be adding a grounding harness as well.

 

[emmado22]

Happens all the time, join the club.

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

Normal....imo. See it weekly in the shop. Me thinks the main issue is the old boxes are not ground fault tolerant.
the S3 is ground fault tolerant...