The latest mishap in my Mark; electrical gremlins

[Stewiesgarage]

So I'm driving, and I start smelling a strange odor in the car; thought it was outside at first, but started getting stronger...it smelled like when you're soddering something on a circuit board. So a minute or so later, radio shuts off, onboard computer goes blank, gas gauge gets pinned past Full, and smoke plumes out the A/C vents...obviously something electrical fried

Pulled over, turned A/C off, shut car off, popped hood, but all was normal under there. So I turned it back on, and proceeded on my way....A/C works fine, all other gauges work fine, and the car ran as usual.

Should I start cutting my losses on this thing...I've had it for around 2 months, and have already had to change the starter, change several components in the rear suspension after the CV axle popped, and now this...not to mention the oil leak is driving me crazy (and no, it's not from behind the filter gasket area)...I love these cars, but this one is requiring much more maintenance than I have the time or ability to dedicate

So any ideas what this latest event is?

JC

 

[97 Octane]

Sounds like a very serious problem.

Where there is smoke, there is . . . .

Check the voltage reading ( normally around 13.7v - 14.5v) at the alternator.
The built-in voltage regulator may be faulty.

A low voltage situation will cause a higher current draw. High current
going through your wires is hot. Hot wires melts the wire jacket. Inspect
the area where you think the smoke came from for bare wire to bare metal
contact for a short.


High current could also fry your circuit boards. The fuse filament for
this circuit should have melted at this stage causing the circuit to
open unless someone before you put in a larger value fuse in its place.


Check your fuse reference guide for compliance.




Ren

 

[LaserSVT]

I hate it when the smoke is let out of electronics. So hard to put back in.

 

[marked8]

I hate it when the smoke is let out of electronics. So hard to put back in.

Luckily the only smoke around my Mark is when I am having a cigar near it.

 

[Titan]

Ditto on the voltage regulator, they can cause erratic problems like this and others when they start going out.