Why Didn't I Pull The Fuse???

[28HopUp]

Well, today's post is to give everyone a chance to learn from my mistake. Yesterday I experienced a small mishap with my CHP Mustang.

It is important to note that I have my CHP spotlights and emergency rear deck lights wired to a fuse block I installed in the driver's side kick panel. Placement there was decided so that I could remove the fuses easily to make the lights inoperable while driving on the street. In addition, I cover the lights with soft KC covers. That includes the Ruby Red spotlight on the driver's side. With my spotlights, I keep them facing down on top of the fenders.

So yesterday, I was grilling on the back deck (it was so nice out) and saw our 12yo son in the driveway playing with the driver's side Ruby Red spotlight. I told him not to mess with it, so he reached in through the open window and used the handle to turn the spotlight back as he had found it. I pulled the sausages off the grill and we ate. Right after dinner, I had to run an errand, and went out to take Debbie's vert which was blocking in my SSP. Jack (our 14yo) looks over and quickly asks "Why is the spotlight smoking?"

I knew immediately what had happened - Ray bumped the switch on the handle when he moved it, and the light turned on with the soft leather KC cover on the head of the spotlight. It had been on for about 25 minutes. I reached in and turned it off, and then lifted the spotlight head off the top of the fender. The leather material from the cover was boiling! Here's what the cover looks like -




I'm not concerned about the cover - I have a spare one. The spotlight should be fine once I use a single-edge razor blade to clean it off. But the paint on the top of the fender is scorched (look in the lower left corner - forgive the dirty car) -




I haven't tried to buff it out yet. Any suggestions on how I should handle the paint? I don't want it to blister from the heat.

So today's lesson-learned: pull out the fuses for the emergency lights until I am ready to use them.

[NoDrama43]

Glad the damage wasn't any worse or ended up in a fire. I would try to wet sand (gently) and buff the area first. If that doesn't work I would probably not paint the fender unless there is no other choice. Depending on how much it bugs you, it could possibly add to the originality (patina) of the car.

[ImEvil1]

+1 on the wet sand. I burned paint once with my high-speed buffer.....completely through the clear. After sanding, it was smooth as glass again and not as noticeable, although still a slight color difference.

Also glad you caught it.

[Andy]

sorry to hear/see your Ooo Ooo
i have never connected the spotlights on my car
I know they work because i have tested them
and .....in the event i have to prove
they are not connected!
i can pull the wire out of where it's tucked in and say See.....
If the paint is not bubbled I would do a wax on wax off!
let us know how it comes out. I bet that cover smelled like
a thrift store in August.

[28HopUp]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I will try some polishing compound first to see how it does. If I'm not happy, then I'll try wet-sanding the area.

Since I am running the CHP equipment off the fuse block I installed, I think I'll take a suggestion and go under the hood to put a switch for the fuse block. That should fix me up I think.

Thanks again!

P.S. - And yes Andy, it smelled pretty bad when the cover was cooking

[MOstang]

Bill - Glad everyone is safe and it didn't turn out worse. I was thinking along the lines of Andy's suggestion below.

[ssp91ssp]

Bill,
Sorry to hear about the boo boo , glad it's not worse..
I think you may also be able to use a Clay Bar ? for the paint issue.
good luck with it ..

ssp91ssp