Spitfire Spitfire 1500 Electrical Question??????

[Flatlander]

I replaced the ignition wiring harness from the steering column due to a fried ground wire. I assume this problem also caused one of the ground wires to fry from the connection point of the ignition harness to the main harness to a junction with two other black (ground) wires under the dash. Any way to diagnose what would have caused this to occur? To me it would imply that there was a short in the steering column somewhere that would have overloaded the ground wire. The main culprit that I could think of would be the horn, which has never worked. Anyway to confirm and are there any common ways that this occurs?

Thanks,

Gary

 

[Scott_Hower]

What year Spit?

The later models have the horn wired to the stalk.

 

[Flatlander]

My car is a 77 Spitfire. The horn is activated by pushing the turn signal stalk. It appears that this was replaced recently as it shows no wear. The wire that fried is one of two black (ground?) wires coming out of the ignition wire harness from the steering wheel. What I find as strange is that the two black wires come into a single pin at the connector and leave as two wires out of the single pin on the other side of the connector. My questions are:

1. If the horn is to blame would the horn use the ignition harness for its ground? (ie grounding to the steering column) The harness for the horn has no ground wire.

2. Any idea why there are two gound wires coming through the ignition harness? Only one fried which I would assume means that the other wire wasn't grounded at the time that the first wire shorted.

Any input is appreciated.

Gary

 

[Flatlander]

Have everything working now but still unclear as to what was the cause.

 

[Scott_Hower]

Dunno but the horn is a good guess, as I don't believe it's fused.