Just finished my head gaskets on my 2002 Disco, took two weeks because I broke a weld on the cat, so had to get it welded. Oh well.

Put in some 20w50 dino oil, and plugged the battery in to get it cranked up and running. Started soon after priming, oil light went out instantly. Got bad bad misfire, oh crap let me get the reader and see whats happening. Dig in my FFRR for the tool and find it, plug it in, try to start and batteries dead! And then I smell smoke, I see the smoke coming out of the parking brake boot! Rip out the nice AB kit that's a year old, and there's a fire! Blow out fire, run to the front and unplug battery, unscrew the seat switch panel and look, the parking brake cable apparently has a short in it.. interesting

anyone have any ideas before I start digging? Kind of scared to reconnect battery to find the short, it got hot and real hot fast. Never had an issue before the gasket job. Did I do something wrong? Wire harness I'm assuming in engine bay would cause a short there, not the parking brake. Ugh

 

I think the parking brake welded itself together, doesn't release.

From what I read, which is not from very many places, is that there is a bad ground. Why would it catch on fire though? And weld the parking brake in place? WTF

 

Disco's don't have many unfused wires, but the starter cable would be a good first place to begin your search.

 

I'll start tomorrow. Maybe something to do with the exhaust I messed up on pass right side,,thank you for your input

 

I don't know if this would work, what do you think?

Remove 12 volt car battery.

Attach positive lead from 9 volt game battery to e-brake cable and use voltmeter to find +9v in any other wiring??


Here's a guy using a 12V test light:

 

Did you connect both of the ground cables, one from battery to alternator bracket and one on rear of drivers side head? Looks like the battery was trying to ground through the parking brake cable. Check both grounds.

Brian.

 

Yep I agree is sounds like a ground issue.

 

I went through the grounds, my main ground to the alternator was tucked down below the fuse box, connected it and not only did it not catch on fire (or heat up), it ran better as well.

Thank you Deputy for the answer!

Thank goodness nothing burnt down.

 

Glad you found the problem. Changing the parking brake cable is not a horrible job. Paul or Abran should be able to hook you up with a used one.

Brian.