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Vintage Fly Guy
Joined: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 182
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 Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 5:50 pm Post subject: A horror story for Halloween weekend! |
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I came across this warning about classic car fuses while watching one of my favourite YouTube channels (Church House Classics, who deal mainly with classic Range Rovers, interspersed with Triumph Stags, Land Rovers and the occasional MG).
I think it makes very interesting viewing and I strongly recommend that everyone follows his recommendation to check what exactly is in the fuse box of your classic car/s... as it may not be what you think! 
https://youtu.be/u9ugWI4Sga8?t=183
Do be aware that Richard tends to be quite forthright and can use some colourful language in doing so, but I'm sure it's nothing that anyone over the age of around 15 hasn't heard before these days!
Anyway, I think this video contains a very important message to get out there, unless you want to come home to a real fire! So do keep watching past the bits about the heater controls not working, trim colour, the rattling gear knob, etc. |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4880
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder if the comment about Hal***ds also applies to their spade fuses which the moderns use.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7219
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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The Triumph Stag overdrive wire melting brings back some scary memories. I had a similar thing happen to my Triumph GT6 Mk3 but with the headlamp flasher. This was original wiring and had not been messed with but for some reason smoke started billowing from the steering column stalk.
I chose to remove the fuse and disconnect the wiring to that part thus permanently disabling it as a feature . |
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alastairq
Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 2132
Location: East Yorkshire
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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My old Ford Mustang also manged to set fire to its steering wheel....aftermarket horn mechanism, which tended to short out at various points in the steering lock.
Then there were the non-existent interior light switches in the A posts....with live wires buried inside the box sections, just waiting for the right sort of 'bump'....
All had to be 'found,' by me...
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces. |
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Vintage Fly Guy
Joined: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 182
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Penman wrote: | | I wonder if the comment about Hal***ds also applies to their spade fuses which the moderns use. |
I understood (possibly incorrectly) that to mean that the blade/spade type fuses were rated differently, so not a straight swap (blow rate wise) with the 'old fashioned' traditional glass bodied fuses.
In other words, they're OK in cars built with fuse boxes for blade/spade type fuses, but it's not a good idea to swap a traditional type fuse box to a blade type fuse box without considering the blow rate of the fuse (as in the case of 'American type' glass bodied fuses).
I'll ask the question in the comments section of his YT video and get back to you. It may take a week or two as there's only one of him and he's got his hands full with work, running the YT channel, family life, etc. |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4880
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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V F G: OK, it would be interesting to know although I am now a former driver, I'm still interested enough to hang around and stick my oar in every so often.
I can remember when I switched Volvos from the 440 to the V40 the spade fuses ere a different physical size.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7219
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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Many - if not most - older cars had just two fuses. I feel unhappy having to rely on a 35 amp fuse blowing in the event of a short circuit.
This is why in addition to the two existing 35 amp fuses (in the RF95 control box) I have tried to protect individual circuits by adding 8 lower rated fuses in my MG TC rewire.
I have also added numerous relays to protect the original (and expensive to replace) dashboard switches. |
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Vintage Fly Guy
Joined: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 182
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Penman wrote: | V F G: OK, it would be interesting to know although I am now a former driver, I'm still interested enough to hang around and stick my oar in every so often.
I can remember when I switched Volvos from the 440 to the V40 the spade fuses ere a different physical size. |
I noticed that too when I got a Discovery 3, the blade type fuses are about half the size of the ones in my 1992 Range Rover Classic. That's not likely to be an issue though, as the larger fuse won't fit the smaller sized fuse box, and vice versa.
The potential issue comes if the blow rates are different and someone converts to the other type of fuse box during a restoration. E.g. converting a traditional glass-bodied fuse box to a blade type system, if the fuse blow rates aren't the same.
Anyway, I've asked the question so will get back to you as soon as I see a reply. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7219
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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Fortunately, original style fuse boxes are still available.
(Incidentally, the isolated 12 v supply is for the
hydrostatic/electronic petrol gauge which comes
with it's own relays.)
Here the red wires are 12v with the ignition on and the blue ones
are 12v before the ignition switch.
 
The wires will eventually be tidied up.  |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4880
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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Does anyone recall the extremely complicated fuse box on the classic mini? That used the glass fuses with a coloured paper insert (different colours, different amperage) There was the huge number of 2 fuses, 1 for items which were only live when the ignition was on and the other was for items needed when the ignition was off. That fuse holder under the bonnet was normally covered but I do remember 1 model year at least when they didn't fit the cover to save money.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7219
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2025 12:06 am Post subject: |
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| Penman wrote: | | Does anyone recall the extremely complicated fuse box on the classic mini? That used the glass fuses with a coloured paper insert (different colours, different amperage) There was the huge number of 2 fuses, 1 for items which were only live when the ignition was on and the other was for items needed when the ignition was off. That fuse holder under the bonnet was normally covered but I do remember 1 model year at least when they didn't fit the cover to save money. |
I think that was the norm at least for cheaper cars. In fact that was the arrangement for my TC. It was the numerous reports of car fires in MG T series midgets that pushed me into upgrading my electrics.
Of course on even earlier cars there is also the possibility that a 'cut out' return spring could fail allowing the points to stick shut. Several vintage cars have been lost to fire thanks to that little known risk. |
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