720d dash smoke, wiring help needed, - update

I checked out the ignition wiring, following James Howell's diagrams (thank you for that). I finally decided that the curly register wire is the one smoking. Looks like the wire connector on the RES terminal had spread when I tightened it, and was not making a good connection.

I crimped on a new round end to that wire and tightened everything down good. The curly wire still smokes and is hot to touch.

Have I fried it now and it needs replaced? Is this from that loose connection or another problem? When I take the screw out of the RES terminal, the smoke stops.

Curly RESISTOR wire I meant to say. I missed that proof reading.

The curly wire going to the RES terminal gets hot and smokes, even after I made sure that the connection was tight.

"<font color="#6699ff">[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]The curly wire still smokes and is hot to touch.[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>"

"<font color="#6699ff">[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]When I take the screw out of the RES terminal, the smoke stops.[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>"

Take a look at the diagram below.





Note the Lead, wire, starter switch to ignition switch (Key 11), Switch, starter (Key 12), and Wire, starter switch to C.E. distributor (Key 14).

Start by disconnecting the black lead wire at the starter switch terminal.

Turn the ignition switch to the ?I? position.

If "[i:654c4848f0]the curly wire still smokes and is hot to touch[/i:654c4848f0]", then turn the ignition switch OFF.

There could be a problem with either the ignition switch resistor or black lead wire "going to ground".

If there is a problem with the ignition switch resistor, then you might consider bypassing the ignition resistor by installing an aftermarket resistor.

Take a look at the photo below.





If there is no smoke or no hot resistor wire, then reconnect the black lead wire.

Next disconnect the green wire at the C.E. (cranking engine) distributor terminal.

Turn the ignition switch to the ?I? position.

If "[i:654c4848f0]the curly wire still smokes and is hot to touch[/i:654c4848f0]", then turn the ignition switch OFF.

There may be a problem with either the starter switch or green wire "going to ground".



If there is no smoke or no hot resistor wire, then reconnect the green wire at the distributor and start troubleshooting the distributor.

Hope this helps.

Unhooked the 1st black wire as you described, resistor still got hot. Bypassed the resistor on the switch and installed one like your pictures. That seems to have fixed the problem. While unhooking the resistor I noticed a burnt spot against the switch body. I'm SURE that it wasn't touching while checking it the last few days. So maybe it touched originally and fried it. I don't know.

Thanks a million for all your help and those diagrams. It was a tremendous help.

Your welcome.

Good to hear that you got it fixed.