[Ashes82]

So i got a free 92 escort wagon. My question is, what in the world would cause a ground wire to catch fire? (it is on a wiring bracket on the trans axle, but I am told it is a ground.) Any ideas as to what I can do to me this started fire free?

Also car would not go into OD so I am replacing the VSS, rather cheap fix...if that doesn't help any ideas?

 

[juggalo]

was there any fluid around it? and the VSS won't solve the OD problem. someone replaced the TPS and that fixed it.

 

[LOWETGT]

I agree partially with Jugg, if the other grounds are bad and this is the only path for the ground, it could become hot. Loose connections also produce heat in electrical situations. Fluids that are combustible on a hot surface can cause a fire. I would re-ground the car. Get/make some grounding straps and be sure that the connections are clean and tight.

There was a recall/TSB on the brake switch on the master cylinder on Ford F series/Expeditions. The switch was hot at all times, brake fluid can get to the sensor and ignite cause an underhood fire. Ford developed a new connector pigtail to wire in to curb the problem. Several people lost their trucks, garages/homes, and even lives to the problem!

I had a fuel line rupture on my old beater GT with about 280,000 miles on it. It caught the engine bay on fire ruining the injector harness and vacuum items located in the pass. rear corner. I had to put it out with snow! I fixed it and drove it until it was too much work/cash to keep. I now carry a fire extinguisher in the silver car. I would hate to see that one burn!

 

[Intuit]

Anyone have any pictures of some/all of the grounding straps ?

While there's no danger of fire (because there are no fluid leaks) the Winter salt-brine mix gets up in everything... so want to add this to my inspection.

Thanks...

 

[pcordes1979]

For the burned ground wire. It most likely corroded over time which caused an increase in resistance which lead to increased heat generation and in extreme cases to fire. I would go through the car and replace the grounding wires and clean up the grounding wire contact surfaces to remove any built up corrosion. Also applying dielectric grease to the newly cleaned up grounding joints will help prevent some corrosion as well. - Peter

 

[denisond3]

I have a 92 LX wagon, and a 91 LX hatchback sedan. Both of them had that weird connector next to the ground terminal on the battery, with about 4 or 5 small wires coming to it. On the 92 it was really corroded, so I eliminated it. I soldered extra lengths of wire to each of the lines going into the connector, and ran those wires to the place on the body (behind the battery) where the negative cable was bolted down. I soldered the wires to the body at that point. I put a new ground cable from the battery to the bell housing bolt. My 91 isnt that rusty yet, but will get the same modification when it does happen.