My Disco 2 V8 Auto has just caught fire! it was parked in the garage with the ignition off (key in my pocket) and it hadn`t been used for several days. Fortunately I was tidying up the garage and noticed the electric window switch centre console had just caught fire for no apparent reason! fortunately i had a bucket of water handy and put out the flames, the centre console is a wreck but i saved the rest.

The wiring particularly the right hand electric window switches has been completely burnt, some of the Auto box wiring loom where it was close to the switches has been burnt and oddly the handbrake cable has melted through and snapped. (The disco had started to smell slightly inside for some weeks and it had got stronger and i wonder whether it was getting warm)

I have heard of a disco centre console catching fire before but what could have caused it??

Many thanks, i don`t want a repeat if i manage to repair it!
Halfshaft

 

There is a electrical ground strap under the center console, it shorts out and catches fire.
The heated seat elements will do the same thing, they break, short out and catch fire.

 

And I believe there is a grounding strap that if loose can allow the ebrake cable to become the ground path (and melt). So repairs should start at battery and check every point that gonds the main cable.